Fire up the toaster!

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the National League Eastern Division champion Philadelphia Phillies. —Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the American League Western Division champion Houston Astros. —Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the San Diego Padres, who have clinched a postseason berth. --Bob

[silverscreenselect]

The toaster may have to stay plugged in a little longer.

Current NL standings:

New York 87-70
Arizona 87-71
Atlanta 86-71

Two of these teams will make the playoffs. The Mets and Braves have two games left with each other in Atlanta, then the Mets go to Milwaukee for three, and the Braves host KC for three. Arizona has one home game left with SF and three with SD. Normally, all this would get sorted out by some time Sunday evening.

BUT...

Hurricane Helene is expected to reach the Atlanta area by tomorrow afternoon. There's also heavy rain today from another front. Two to three inches of rain expected tonight, and two to three inches tomorrow with 100% chance of rain both days. (There's intermittent rain now where I am, about six miles form the Braves' stadium.) There's almost no chance of either game being played as scheduled.

Which means we may be in for some extra baseball, either one or two games on Monday, depending on the standings at the end of the day Sunday.

[Bob78164]

The toaster may have to stay plugged in a little longer.

Current NL standings:

New York 87-70
Arizona 87-71
Atlanta 86-71

Two of these teams will make the playoffs. The Mets and Braves have two games left with each other in Atlanta, then the Mets go to Milwaukee for three, and the Braves host KC for three. Arizona has one home game left with SF and three with SD. Normally, all this would get sorted out by some time Sunday evening.

BUT...

Hurricane Helene is expected to reach the Atlanta area by tomorrow afternoon. There's also heavy rain today from another front. Two to three inches of rain expected tonight, and two to three inches tomorrow with 100% chance of rain both days. (There's intermittent rain now where I am, about six miles form the Braves' stadium.) There's almost no chance of either game being played as scheduled.

Which means we may be in for some extra baseball, either one or two games on Monday, depending on the standings at the end of the day Sunday.

Normally this would be sorted out by late Sunday afternoon, not Sunday evening. A good thing that MLB did was schedule all games on the season's last (scheduled) day to begin at the same time (within 5 minutes or so) -- 12:30 p.m. PDT. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the Baltimore Orioles, who have clinched a postseason berth. --Bob

[silverscreenselect]

The toaster may have to stay plugged in a little longer.

Current NL standings:

New York 87-70
Arizona 87-71
Atlanta 86-71

Two of these teams will make the playoffs. The Mets and Braves have two games left with each other in Atlanta, then the Mets go to Milwaukee for three, and the Braves host KC for three. Arizona has one home game left with SF and three with SD. Normally, all this would get sorted out by some time Sunday evening.

BUT...

Hurricane Helene is expected to reach the Atlanta area by tomorrow afternoon. There's also heavy rain today from another front. Two to three inches of rain expected tonight, and two to three inches tomorrow with 100% chance of rain both days. (There's intermittent rain now where I am, about six miles form the Braves' stadium.) There's almost no chance of either game being played as scheduled.

Which means we may be in for some extra baseball, either one or two games on Monday, depending on the standings at the end of the day Sunday.

The Mets-Braves series has been officially postponed and will be made up as a doubleheader on Monday.

[silverscreenselect]

Congratulations to the San Diego Padres, who have clinched a postseason berth. --Bob

The way the Padres clinched their berth was historic, turning a ninth-inning triple play against the Dodgers with the potential winning run at the plate:

[littlebeast13]

The toaster may have to stay plugged in a little longer.

Current NL standings:

New York 87-70
Arizona 87-71
Atlanta 86-71

Two of these teams will make the playoffs. The Mets and Braves have two games left with each other in Atlanta, then the Mets go to Milwaukee for three, and the Braves host KC for three. Arizona has one home game left with SF and three with SD. Normally, all this would get sorted out by some time Sunday evening.

BUT...

Hurricane Helene is expected to reach the Atlanta area by tomorrow afternoon. There's also heavy rain today from another front. Two to three inches of rain expected tonight, and two to three inches tomorrow with 100% chance of rain both days. (There's intermittent rain now where I am, about six miles form the Braves' stadium.) There's almost no chance of either game being played as scheduled.

Which means we may be in for some extra baseball, either one or two games on Monday, depending on the standings at the end of the day Sunday.

The Mets-Braves series has been officially postponed and will be made up as a doubleheader on Monday.

That will be a very interesting scenario if only one of the Braves or Mets already clinches by Monday, and it essentially only decides whether Arizona or the other team gets the final spot. The clinching team is going to be in no mood to go all out to win that game. It would also put Arizona in an awkward position of potentially clinching their spot AFTER their season is over. And, would they play the second game if the first game settled everything? I'd guess not...

I'm surprised they didn't rush together an alternate site to play a Thursday doubleheader at...

lb13

[Bob78164]

The toaster may have to stay plugged in a little longer.

Current NL standings:

New York 87-70
Arizona 87-71
Atlanta 86-71

Two of these teams will make the playoffs. The Mets and Braves have two games left with each other in Atlanta, then the Mets go to Milwaukee for three, and the Braves host KC for three. Arizona has one home game left with SF and three with SD. Normally, all this would get sorted out by some time Sunday evening.

BUT...

Hurricane Helene is expected to reach the Atlanta area by tomorrow afternoon. There's also heavy rain today from another front. Two to three inches of rain expected tonight, and two to three inches tomorrow with 100% chance of rain both days. (There's intermittent rain now where I am, about six miles form the Braves' stadium.) There's almost no chance of either game being played as scheduled.

Which means we may be in for some extra baseball, either one or two games on Monday, depending on the standings at the end of the day Sunday.

The Mets-Braves series has been officially postponed and will be made up as a doubleheader on Monday.

That will be a very interesting scenario if only one of the Braves or Mets already clinches by Monday, and it essentially only decides whether Arizona or the other team gets the final spot. The clinching team is going to be in no mood to go all out to win that game. It would also put Arizona in an awkward position of potentially clinching their spot AFTER their season is over. And, would they play the second game if the first game settled everything? I'd guess not...

I'm surprised they didn't rush together an alternate site to play a Thursday doubleheader at...

lb13

Something similar happened in 1973. The Mets and Cubs scheduled a doubleheader the day after the season's scheduled conclusion (while the Pirates played in San Diego). When the Mets won the first game of the doubleheader, they clinched. The second game wasn't cancelled, though. It was "rained out."

So my guess is that unless there's weather of some sort in the Atlanta area on Monday, they'll go through with both games. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Tampa Bay has lost 80 games so the Rays cannot win more than 82 games. The Yankees have won 92 games so the Rays cannot win the American League Eastern Division. Baltimore has won 88 games so Tampa Bay will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the American League Eastern Division. The Guardians, Tigers, and Royals each have won at least 84 games so the Rays will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the American League Central Division.

No playoff baseball in the Sunshine State this season. Tampa Bay has been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Boston has lost 79 games so the Red Sox cannot win more than 83 games. The Yankees have won 92 games so the Red Sox cannot win the American League Eastern Division. Baltimore has won 88 games so Boston will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the American League Eastern Division. The Guardians, Tigers, and Royals each have won at least 84 games so the Red Sox will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the American League Central Division.

The playoffs will not have sox appeal this year. Boston has been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

A little late, but congratulations to the American League Central Division champion Cleveland Guardians. --Bob

[littlebeast13]

Something similar happened in 1973. The Mets and Cubs scheduled a doubleheader the day after the season's scheduled conclusion (while the Pirates played in San Diego). When the Mets won the first game of the doubleheader, they clinched. The second game wasn't cancelled, though. It was "rained out."

So my guess is that unless there's weather of some sort in the Atlanta area on Monday, they'll go through with both games. --Bob

That was in a different era, though. With the wildcard series beginning the next day, I don't see them making whichever team qualifies (or potentially both teams) playing am extra meaningless game. I'd think the second game would be tentative on qualification still needing to be sorted out, and the entire DH may get wiped out if one of the three teams struggles and knocks itself out over the weekend...

lb13

[Bob78164]

Something similar happened in 1973. The Mets and Cubs scheduled a doubleheader the day after the season's scheduled conclusion (while the Pirates played in San Diego). When the Mets won the first game of the doubleheader, they clinched. The second game wasn't cancelled, though. It was "rained out."

So my guess is that unless there's weather of some sort in the Atlanta area on Monday, they'll go through with both games. --Bob

That was in a different era, though. With the wildcard series beginning the next day, I don't see them making whichever team qualifies (or potentially both teams) playing am extra meaningless game. I'd think the second game would be tentative on qualification still needing to be sorted out, and the entire DH may get wiped out if one of the three teams struggles and knocks itself out over the weekend...

lb13

The Mets literally cannot knock themselves out over the weekend. Their worst possible result is falling two games behind the Braves, so if they win the doubleheader, they finish tied with the Braves and own the tiebreak. They also win the tiebreak against Arizona and San Diego, so even if one or both of those teams is involved in a tie along with the Mets and the Braves, the Mets still advance. It's possible for either of the other two teams to get knocked out, but even then at least the first game would be necessary to determine seeding. --Bob

[littlebeast13]

Something similar happened in 1973. The Mets and Cubs scheduled a doubleheader the day after the season's scheduled conclusion (while the Pirates played in San Diego). When the Mets won the first game of the doubleheader, they clinched. The second game wasn't cancelled, though. It was "rained out."

So my guess is that unless there's weather of some sort in the Atlanta area on Monday, they'll go through with both games. --Bob

That was in a different era, though. With the wildcard series beginning the next day, I don't see them making whichever team qualifies (or potentially both teams) playing am extra meaningless game. I'd think the second game would be tentative on qualification still needing to be sorted out, and the entire DH may get wiped out if one of the three teams struggles and knocks itself out over the weekend...

lb13

The Mets literally cannot knock themselves out over the weekend. Their worst possible result is falling two games behind the Braves, so if they win the doubleheader, they finish tied with the Braves and own the tiebreak. They also win the tiebreak against Arizona and San Diego, so even if one or both of those teams is involved in a tie along with the Mets and the Braves, the Mets still advance. It's possible for either of the other two teams to get knocked out, but even then at least the first game would be necessary to determine seeding. --Bob

They don't play bonus games for seeding anymore, and I don't think they'd "extend" the season to play games for seeding either. I could be wrong, but that doesn't seem like the way the Manfred regime works. I think once they know the six teams, the regular season will "end" and raw wins/winning percentage will determine the seeding...

lb13

[Bob78164]

Seattle has lost 77 games so the Mariners cannot win more than 85 games. Houston has won 86 games so Seattle cannot win the American League Western Division. The Yankees and Orioles each have won at least 88 games to the Mariners will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the American League Eastern Division. Cleveland has won 92 games, and Detroit and Kansas City each have won 85 games. Seattle cannot win any tiebreak that involves either or both of those two teams, so the Mariners will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the American League Central Division.

The Mariners have met their great white whale. Seattle has been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the American League Eastern Division champion New York Yankees. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the National League Western Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers. —Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the Detroit Tigers, who have clinched a postseason berth. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Minnesota has lost 78 games so the Twins cannot win more than 84 games. Cleveland has won 92 games so Minnesota cannot win the American League Central Division. The Tigers and Royals each have won at least 85 games so the Twins will finish behind at least two non-division winners in the American League Central Division. The Yankees and Orioles each have won at least 89 games so the Twins also will finish behind at least one non-division winner in the American League Eastern Division.

Time for fans of the Twins to jump in one of the state's 10,000 lakes. Minnesota has been toastified. --Bob

[Bob78164]

Congratulations to the Kansas City Royals, who have clinched a postseason berth. --Bob

[Bob78164]

That was in a different era, though. With the wildcard series beginning the next day, I don't see them making whichever team qualifies (or potentially both teams) playing am extra meaningless game. I'd think the second game would be tentative on qualification still needing to be sorted out, and the entire DH may get wiped out if one of the three teams struggles and knocks itself out over the weekend...

lb13

The Mets literally cannot knock themselves out over the weekend. Their worst possible result is falling two games behind the Braves, so if they win the doubleheader, they finish tied with the Braves and own the tiebreak. They also win the tiebreak against Arizona and San Diego, so even if one or both of those teams is involved in a tie along with the Mets and the Braves, the Mets still advance. It's possible for either of the other two teams to get knocked out, but even then at least the first game would be necessary to determine seeding. --Bob

They don't play bonus games for seeding anymore, and I don't think they'd "extend" the season to play games for seeding either. I could be wrong, but that doesn't seem like the way the Manfred regime works. I think once they know the six teams, the regular season will "end" and raw wins/winning percentage will determine the seeding...

lb13

This issue is now academic. Both games of the doubleheader will be necessary. If either team sweeps, Arizona advances as the number 6 seed. If the Mets and Braves split the doubleheader, they both get in (with the Braves as the number 5 seed) and Arizona is on the outside looking in. --Bob

[silverscreenselect]

This issue is now academic. Both games of the doubleheader will be necessary. If either team sweeps, Arizona advances as the number 6 seed. If the Mets and Braves split the doubleheader, they both get in (with the Braves as the number 5 seed) and Arizona is on the outside looking in. --Bob

This situation reminds me of a scenario that used to happen occasionally in World Cup soccer qualifying. Two teams would meet in their final match, knowing that if a certain score occurred, both would advance to the next round at the expense of a third team. And lo and behold, that score magically happened.

So if the Mets and Braves were to say, let's just split the doubleheader and we both get in...

[littlebeast13]

This issue is now academic. Both games of the doubleheader will be necessary. If either team sweeps, Arizona advances as the number 6 seed. If the Mets and Braves split the doubleheader, they both get in (with the Braves as the number 5 seed) and Arizona is on the outside looking in. --Bob

This situation reminds me of a scenario that used to happen occasionally in World Cup soccer qualifying. Two teams would meet in their final match, knowing that if a certain score occurred, both would advance to the next round at the expense of a third team. And lo and behold, that score magically happened.

So if the Mets and Braves were to say, let's just split the doubleheader and we both get in...

This time the "secret plan" is baked into the formula, however, as whichever team wins the first game will punch its ticket and is going to, for its own best interests, not going to want to burn resources trying very hard to win the second game with the wildcard round starting the next day... while the other team will obviously be very motivated to win. Even without any secret handshakes, a split is almost inevitable (unless the Mets lolMets again)....

lb13