Updated playoff scenarios
(Through Friday's games)
It still is possible the "regular season" will spill into Tuesday in the American League; in fact, it's what Yahoo! Sports' Ryne Sandberg is predicting.
Let's break down the possibilities. The White Sox have home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The Yankees-Red Sox winner Saturday wraps up a playoff spot if the Indians lose Saturday. In fact, the Yankees win the AL East with a win and an Indians loss.
The Angels are locked into the No. 3 spot if they lose Saturday.
In the National League, the Astros still need a win and a Phillies loss to clinch the wild-card berth on Saturday.
Schedule (Times Eastern)
Yankees at Red Sox (1:25 Sat FOX, 2:05 Sun ESPN)
White Sox at Indians (1:25 Sat FOX, 1:05 Sun ESPN2)
Angels at Rangers (8:05 Sat, 2:05 Sun)
Cubs at Astros (4:05 Sat FOX regional, 2:05 Sun ESPN2)
Phillies at Nationals (4:05 Sat FOX regional, 1:05 Sun ESPN2)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Number of wins | Division Series matchups | |
BOS 2, CLE 2 | 4 CLE @ 2 BOS, 3 LAA @ 1 CHW | |
BOS 1, CLE 2 | Monday AL East playoff: BOS @ NYY | |
If BOS or NYY is wild card: | If CLE is wild card: | |
BOS 0, CLE 2 | 4 CLE @ 2 NYY, 3 LAA @ 1 CHW | |
BOS 2, CLE 1 | Monday AL East playoff: NYY @ CLE | |
If CLE is wild card: | If NYY are wild card: | |
BOS 1, CLE 1 | If LAA sweep Texas: | If LAA do not sweep Texas: |
BOS 0, CLE 1 | Monday wild card playoff: CLE @ BOS | |
If BOS is wild card: | If CLE is wild card: | |
BOS 2, CLE 0 | 3 LAA @ 2 BOS, 4 NYY @ 1 CHW | |
BOS 1, CLE 0 | If LAA sweep Texas: | If LAA do not sweep Texas: |
BOS 0, CLE 0 | 3 LAA @ 2 NYY, 4 BOS @ 1 CHW |
NATIONAL LEAGUE
The National League is pretty simple. An Astros win and a Phillies loss (or two of either) makes the Astros the wild card and the Braves' Division Series opponent. The No. 3 Padres would face the No. 1 Cardinals.
If the Phillies rally to win the wild card, they would face the Cardinals and the Padres would face the No. 2 Braves.
If there's a one-game playoff between the Astros and Phillies, it would be Monday in Philadelphia.