MLB’s final day of the regular-season schedule will be needed to determine a playoff picture that’s murky at the moment. Here’s a closer look.
Latest on the Blue Jays: After losing a heartbreaker to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, the Toronto Blue Jays enter Sunday trailing the Kansas City Royals by one game in the race for top spot in the American League.
A Blue Jays win on Sunday, coupled with a Royals loss, would secure the No. 1 spot for Toronto and ensure home-field advantage throughout the post-season.
Mark Buehrle will take the mound for the Blue Jays on short rest, having started Friday’s game. The left-hander needs two innings to reach 200 for a 15th consecutive season — a feat that would place him in a select group of legendary hurlers. Matt Moore gets the ball for the Rays.
If the playoffs started today…
Wild Card
New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros
ALDS
Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees OR Houston Astros
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers
Kansas City Royals
Last night: Royals beat Twins, eliminate them from AL wild-card race
Next up: Game 3 vs. Twins
Pitching matchup: Johnny Cueto vs. Ricky Nolasco
Best-case scenario: Royals win to lock up top spot in AL, ensure home-field advantage throughout playoffs.
Worst-case scenario: Royals lose, Blue Jays win, meaning Kansas City finishes second in AL race.
Toronto Blue Jays
Last night: Beckham keys rally in 9th, Rays beat Blue Jays
Next up: Game 3 vs. Rays
Pitching matchups: Mark Buehrle vs. Matt Moore
Best-case scenario: Blue Jays win, Royals lose, ensuring Toronto takes top spot in AL and home-field throughout playoffs.
Worst-case scenario: Blue Jays lose and wind up with No. 2 spot in AL and a date with winner of AL West.
Texas Rangers
Last night: Angels storm back with 5-run 9th to stun Rangers, keep playoff hopes alive
Next up: Game 4 vs. Angels
Pitching matchup: Garrett Richards vs. Cole Hamels
Best-case scenario: Rangers win to clinch AL West.
Worst-case scenario: Rangers lose, Astros win, setting up one-game tiebreaker to decide AL West.
New York Yankees
Last night: Yankees fail to wrap up wild-card home-field advantage vs. Orioles
Next up: Game 3 vs. Orioles
Pitching matchup: Michael Pineda vs. Chris Tillman
Best-case scenario: Yankees win, clinch home-field for AL Wild Card.
Worst-case scenario: Yankees lose, Astros win, meaning Houston gets home-field in Wild Card game. Or, Astros play Rangers in one-game tiebreaker and Yankees visit the loser of that game in Wild Card matchup. (See below for details.)
Houston Astros
Last night: Rasmus homers twice as Astros clinch at least a wild-card tie
Next up: Game 3 vs. Diamondbacks
Pitching matchup: Lance McCullers vs. Robbie Ray
Best-case scenario: Astros win, Rangers lose, forcing one-game tiebreaker to decide AL West. (If Astros win and Rangers also win, Houston clinches second Wild Card spot).
Worst-case scenario: Astros lose, Angels win, setting up tiebreaker in Houston on Monday to decide who takes No. 2 spot in Wild Card race.
Los Angeles Angels
Last night: Angels storm back with 5-run 9th to stun Rangers, keep playoff hopes alive
Next up: Game 4 vs. Rangers
Pitching matchup: Garrett Richards vs. Cole Hamels
Best-case scenario: Angels win, Astros lose, setting up one-game tiebreaker for final spot in Wild Card.
Worst-case scenario: Angels lose or Astros win, eliminating Los Angeles from playoff race.
If the playoffs started today…
Wild Card
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
NLDS
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates OR Chicago Cubs
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets (Confirmed)
St. Louis Cardinals
Last night: Postponed
Next up: Games 2, 3 vs. Braves
Pitching matchup: John Lackey vs. Shelby Miller; Lance Lynn vs. Matt Wisler
Los Angeles Dodgers
Last night: Dodgers clinch home-field advantage in NLDS with win
Next up: Game 3 vs. Padres
Pitching matchup: Frank Garces vs. Clayton Kershaw
New York Mets
Last night: Harper hits 42nd HR, Nationals dent Mets’ playoff position
Next up: Game 3 vs. Nationals
Pitching matchup: Tanner Roark vs. Jacob deGrom
Pittsburgh Pirates
Last night: Reds prevent Pirates from locking up wild card at home
Next up: Game 3 vs. Reds
Pitching matchup: Josh Smith vs. J. A. Happ
Best-case scenario: Pirates win, Cubs lose, ensuring Pittsburgh hosts Wild Card game for third straight year.
Worst-case scenario: Cubs win, Pirates lose, handing Chicago home-field advantage in Wild Card game.
Chicago Cubs
Last night: Cubs keep chances of hosting wild card game alive with win
Next up: Game 3 vs. Brewers
Pitching matchup: Dan Haren vs. Jorge Lopez
Best-case scenario: Cubs win, Pirates lose, handing Chicago home-field advantage in Wild Card game.
Worst-case scenario: Pirates win, Cubs lose, meaning Pittsburgh hosts Wild Card game.
