a 4 way tie at 89-73 is one of the only 3 ways Seattle can win the diivision. it would be Seattle as West Champ (they are going to win any scenerio where all three teams have the same record- which is all three of their possabilities). Second would be Houston and third would be the Rangers. I am going off of this, so hopefully they are right. "The same steps would be used to determine the winner of the second AL Wild Card berth between the Blue Jays and the two remaining AL West clubs. Because none of these three teams won their season series against both of the other two clubs, this tiebreaker would also go to the team with the best combined winning percentage against the other two. In this scenario, the Astros would prevail and claim the second AL Wild Card spot. (With no remaining head-to-head games between the Astros, Rangers and Blue Jays, this one has already been decided.) The tie between the Blue Jays and Rangers for the third AL Wild Card spot would then be settled using two-team tiebreaker rules, starting with head-to-head record. The Rangers won their season series against the Blue Jays, 6-1, so they’d prevail in this tiebreaker scenario and claim the third AL Wild Card berth."
Houston Division 6 22.22% 5th 4 14.81% 6th 11 40.74% Out 6 22.22% Play offs 21 77.78% Texas Division 18 66.67% 5th 3 11.11% 6th 4 14.81% Out 2 7.41% Play offs 25 92.59% Seattle Division 3 11.11% 5th 1 3.70% 6th 7 25.93% Out 16 59.26% Play offs 11 40.74% Toronto Division 0 0.00% 5th 19 70.37% 6th 5 18.52% Out 3 11.11% Play offs 24 88.89%
We are in if we win one more game. We will win the division if we win 2 more games and Seattle wins one more game.
I have to admit, a close playoff race at the very end is much more interesting than a cakewalk. In prior years, we would already be looking to our first round playoff series. This year, with 2 to go, we could win the division or miss the post season entirely. This is a little closer than what I had in mind though.
If the Rangers/Astros/Mariners are all even at 89 wins and the Bluejays will have 90 wins. Who will win the west and who will be out? Head to head : Rangers has tiebreaker over Mariners Astros has tiebreaker over Rangers Mariners has tiebreaker over Astros
Since all 3 AL contenders could win the division or miss the post season entirely, which team would benefit the most from the win and which would be hardest hit by missing the playoffs? I think the Mariners would benefit the most from a division win because it occurs so rarely. I think the Rangers would be hardest hit from missing the post season due to high expectations and all that money they spent.
Mariners win 3 team tiebreaker (best record in games between all 3 teams), we get the other spot (head to head over Texas) Rangers out
In that scenario Mariners win the division, Astros come in second and Rangers miss the playoffs Here's every scenario, my favorite is where the Astros sweep and the Mariners sweep and the Mariners miss the playoffs.
That will have meant the Mariners won 4 games in their series and the Astros 2. Chart below says Mariners win division, Astros the WC, and the Rangers out. The Rangers broadcast alluded to this yesterday saying they may need to root for the Astros on Sunday. If both the Astros and Mariners sweep their series then it's the Mariners who are out.
No one expecting the Rangers will win this division before the season started. The consense ranking/expectation preseason : Astros - Mariners - Rangers - nobody cares. So if the Astros will miss the payoff, that will be the biggest disappointment.
Also, if Astros and Rangers both will win today, that basically will eliminate the Mariners. If you are Baker, will you still put out your top lineup for Sunday's game? because if you win out and Rangers will lose the last game, you will still win the division. But do you think the Mariners will just give up on their last game even they will be elimiated?
If the Astros win out then the rangers will need two wins to clinch the division. I think they only need one win to clinch the playoffs though.
