Two stars since it's a double header...
What are the scenarios for each team to clinch a playoff spot?
Let's run through these:
1. The Mets win the first game, the Braves win the second game. The Braves are the No. 5 seed and head to the No. 4 San Diego Padres for a best-of-three wild-card series starting Tuesday. The Mets are the No. 6 seed and play the No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers. Yes, that means the Mets would have gone from Milwaukee on Sunday to Atlanta on Monday, and then back to Milwaukee on Tuesday. (The Braves would have to fly cross-country, but at least they were already in Atlanta.)
2. If the Braves win the first game and the Mets win the second, it's the same result. The Braves are the No. 5 seed and the Mets are the No. 6 seed.
3. The Mets win both games. New York is the No. 5 seed and plays the Padres. The Diamondbacks are the No. 6 seed and play the Brewers in a rematch of last year's wild-card series. The Mets travel from Milwaukee to Atlanta to San Diego. (They won't complain.)
4. The Braves win both games. Atlanta is the No. 5 seed and plays the Padres; the Diamondbacks are the No. 6 seed and play the Brewers.
Keep in mind that whichever team wins the first game of the doubleheader clinches a playoff spot. That will provide less incentive -- or, really, no incentive -- for that team to churn through its best relievers in the second game. Not with the first wild-card game on hand for Tuesday.
Mets have just scored 3 in the top of the 8th to tie the game at 3-3...
What are the scenarios for each team to clinch a playoff spot?
Let's run through these:
1. The Mets win the first game, the Braves win the second game. The Braves are the No. 5 seed and head to the No. 4 San Diego Padres for a best-of-three wild-card series starting Tuesday. The Mets are the No. 6 seed and play the No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers. Yes, that means the Mets would have gone from Milwaukee on Sunday to Atlanta on Monday, and then back to Milwaukee on Tuesday. (The Braves would have to fly cross-country, but at least they were already in Atlanta.)
2. If the Braves win the first game and the Mets win the second, it's the same result. The Braves are the No. 5 seed and the Mets are the No. 6 seed.
3. The Mets win both games. New York is the No. 5 seed and plays the Padres. The Diamondbacks are the No. 6 seed and play the Brewers in a rematch of last year's wild-card series. The Mets travel from Milwaukee to Atlanta to San Diego. (They won't complain.)
4. The Braves win both games. Atlanta is the No. 5 seed and plays the Padres; the Diamondbacks are the No. 6 seed and play the Brewers.
Keep in mind that whichever team wins the first game of the doubleheader clinches a playoff spot. That will provide less incentive -- or, really, no incentive -- for that team to churn through its best relievers in the second game. Not with the first wild-card game on hand for Tuesday.
Mets have just scored 3 in the top of the 8th to tie the game at 3-3...
