The MLB regular season is over for 28 teams, and now, thanks to Hurricane Helene and some weekend results, the Mets and Braves will determine whether one of both of them reach the playoffs in a doubleheader Monday afternoon.
Following Sunday’s action, the Diamondbacks are the No. 5 seed at 89-73, with both the Mets and Braves tied at 88-72 for the final spot – but both NL East teams own the tiebreaker on Arizona (Mets won the season series 4-3, Braves won it 5-2), so they are either No. 6 or out.
Atlanta has the tiebreaker as of now over the Mets via a 6-5 head-to-head record so far, but of course, the Mets can take that with a sweep – so, what are the scenarios heading into Monday as to where, and when, both teams could end up?
METS SWEEP
-If the Mets win both games Monday, they finish 90-72 and get the No. 5 seed, and would head to San Diego to play the Padres. The Diamondbacks would go to Milwaukee, and Atlanta is out.
BRAVES SWEEP
-If both games are played and Atlanta wins both, they go to San Diego, the D-Backs go to Milwaukee, and the Mets come home for the winter.
THE TEAMS SPLIT
-Whichever team wins Game 1 clinches a playoff spot, and if it’s the Braves, they clinch the fifth seed, meaning Game 2 would be the Mets playing to knock out Arizona. If the Mets win Game 1, they clinch a spot, but then it’s the Braves playing Game 2 to knock out Arizona and get the higher seed.
Either way, if they split and both teams finish 89-73, the tiebreakers come into play and it’s Atlanta at San Diego as the five, the Mets go back to Milwaukee as the six, and the defending NL champions watch October baseball from home.