It all boils down to this.
Sunday marks the end of the Major League Baseball regular season, but there’s still plenty of drama to unfold before the playoffs kick off. Not only is the final National League playoff spot up for grabs, but two division championships remain undecided.
This situation is quite tense as the regular season wraps up.
Mets and Reds Compete for Final Wild Card
Out of the 12 playoff spots, 11 are already claimed, all six being in the American League.
On the other hand, two teams in the National League are battling for the last wild card position.
In one corner, you have the New York Mets, currently sitting at 84-78.
Across from them are the Cincinnati Reds, who also boast the same record and some key advantages.
Cincinnati has the edge in their season series against the Mets. So, if they finish with identical records, the Reds advance while the Mets get eliminated. New York needs to win while hoping for a Reds loss, but if Cincinnati wins or if the Mets lose, they move on.
The Mets will face off against the Miami Marlins, while the Reds take on the Milwaukee Brewers, with both games kicking off shortly after 3 PM ET.
Guardians and Tigers Vie for AL Central Title
Just yesterday, the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers secured playoff spots, with the Tigers defeating the Boston Red Sox and the Guardians edging past the Texas Rangers thanks to a walk-off hit by pitch.
That said, the AL Central champion is still up for grabs.
Both teams are tied at 87-74 heading into the final day. The Guardians hold the tiebreaker, so they can clinch the division with a win over the Rangers, or by relying on the Tigers losing to the Red Sox.
For Detroit, winning the title means overcoming Boston while hoping Cleveland falls.
It’s been a remarkable comeback story for Cleveland after they trailed by 15.5 games in the division back in early July. Even if they end up as a wild card team, their resurgence has been noteworthy.
Detroit will take on Boston at Fenway, while Cleveland hosts Texas, with both games starting shortly after 3 PM Eastern time.
AL East and Top Seed Up for Grabs
As the final day of MLB games approaches, the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees find themselves locked in a tie for both the AL East and the top seed in the American League.
Both teams hold 93-68 records, while the Seattle Mariners sit with 90 wins. The AL East champion will also earn home-field advantage at least through the AL Championship Series.
Toronto currently has the tiebreaker since they won the season series against the Yankees. Therefore, New York needs to win today while hoping for a loss from Toronto.
The Blue Jays also require either a win or a Yankees loss to clinch the division.
The Yankees will be playing against the Baltimore Orioles, while the Blue Jays face the Tampa Bay Rays, both games set to start shortly after 3 PM Eastern.
