With three games remaining, there are six teams with a chance to make the post season in the National League. All three divisions are competitive and the Wild Card race is a veritable free for all. This leads to several tie breaker scenarios.

Ties between two teams atop a division are decided by a one game playoff. The exception is when both teams are guaranteed the Wild Card if they lose the Division. In that case, the team with the better record in head-to-head play is the Division winner and the other gets the Wild Card.

There’s actually a possibility of a four way tie, where NY and Philly are tied for the NL East and San Diego and Arizona are tied for the NL West, while all are tied for the Wild Card. This would touch off three one game tie breakers – one for each division and the losers of those games playing for the Wild Card. This is as good as it gets!

A three way tie for the Wild Card would result in two tie breakers. The team among the three with the best head to head record would be able to take a bye in the first game and play the winner of the tie breaker game between the other two teams.

NL East
The Mets and Phillies are tied going into Friday night. The Mets have been doing their best impersonation of the 1978 Red Sox (or is that 1969 Cubs?). The Mets have lost their last four games. While they both face weak opposition at home for the final three games – NY against Florida and Philly against Washington – Philly has more momentum and a more energizing fan base. I think Philly will prevail or at least maintain the tie. Both teams are also contenders for the Wild Card.

NL Central
The Cubs managed to be swept by the Marlins, so they’ve kept the Milwaukee alive. Only two games separate them. Chicago is the team of tragic destiny. Could this be another year when they break the hearts of their faithful fans? If they do break any hearts, I predict it will be during the post season.

NL West
Arizona and San Diego are separated by a single game. They both face strong opponents in away games for their final series. Arizona will be in Colorado and San Diego in Milwaukee. All four teams are competing for a position in the post season and will be playing all out. Both teams are also contenders for the Wild Card.

NL Wild Card
San Diego is on top with a one game lead. Philly, Colorado and New York are behind by a single game. Arizona is another possibility, if they fall behind San Diego.

AL East
They’ve both clinched a spot in the postseason, but the Yankees and Red Sox are still battling for the AL East crown. The Red Sox are two games ahead with three remaining. Their magic number is two. I predicted a Yankee win last week and there’s still a good chance of it. The Yankees won more games than the Sox in head-to-head play, so the Yankees win the division in the event of a tie.


Read a great book about the man who started home run mania: