Playoff Picture
Aug 14, 2013 10:01:36 GMT -5
Post by Brian (Blue Jays GM) on Aug 14, 2013 10:01:36 GMT -5
Hey folks, we're 4 weeks away from the playoffs so here's a little snapshot of where all of the races stand.
Quick note on tiebreakers:
1) If two teams finish tied for first place in a division, the division winner will be the team with the best record within the division (listed on the league standings under "div").
2) If teams remain tied, Yahoo then looks at winning percentage for the final week of the season, followed by winning percentage for the second-to-last week, followed by the third-to-last week, etc. Basically, it just goes backwards until it reaches a point where one team has a better recent-record than the other. In the event of a wild card tie, only this second tiebreaker is used. This second tiebreaker will also be used to determine playoff seeding if two division winners have the same record.
3) In the event of a three-(or more)-way tie atop a division that is also a three-(or more)-way tie for the Wild Card, the division winner is determined by the first method and the Wild Card winner is determined by the second.
NL East:
After falling victim to the Diamondbacks last week, the Phillies (10-7-1) fell a game behind the Nationals (11-6-1) for the division lead. The Nats however have tough matchups this week against the Giants and next week against the Dodgers so watch for some jockeying at the top spot of this division as these two clubs fight it out. The Braves, Mets, and Marlins have all been mathematically eliminated from contention making this a 2 team race.
NL Central:
The Reds (11-7-0) defeated the Cubs (10-8-0) last week to take sole possession of the division lead. The Astros (10-7-1) sit a half game behind the Reds after a dominant win over the Cardinals last week. Cincinnati has a tough matchup in the final week against the Giants, and the Astros will have a tough one against the Dodgers in the second to last week, leaving the Cubs with the easiest remaining schedule and a reasonable chance to climb from 3rd to 1st before season's end. The Cardinals, Brewers, and Pirates have all been mathematically eliminated from contention.
NL West:
With the top record in the NL, the Diamondbacks (17-1-0) are on the verge of clinching the playoffs with one more victory. They sit 3 games ahead of the NL's second best team by record, the Giants (14-4-0), and 4 games ahead of the NL's third best team, the Dodgers (13-5-0). With the 3 best teams in the league all in one division, it's going to be quite the final 4 weeks to watch in this division. The Diamondbacks will be very hard to catch, but a win by the Dodgers in this week's divisional matchup could make that race a bit more interesting.
NL Wild Card:
The Giants hold a 1 game lead over the Dodgers for the wild card and have an easier schedule down the stretch (particularly this week with the Dodgers facing the NL best Diamondbacks). With 4 weeks to go, the Astros and Phillies sit 3.5 games back, tied for 3rd place in the Wildcard race. The Cubs are 4 games out. All other teams are mathematically eliminated.
AL East:
The Blue Jays (15-1-2) hold the AL's #1 seed and have clinched a playoff birth, as have the Rays (14-2-2) who sit just one game behind. Both teams will face the Tigers in the final few weeks, leaving the schedules relatively even. Should the division end up tied (the Jays would have to lose one more than the Rays the rest of the way), the Jays would hold the 1st tie breaker as they swept their divisional matchups this season. The Red Sox, Yankees, and Orioles have all been mathematically eliminated.
AL Central:
The Tigers (14-0-4) are the #2 seed in the AL, tied for best record but behind the Jays due to the recent record tiebreaker. With a 5.5 game lead over Cleveland and only 4 weeks to go, the Tigers have clinched the AL Central division.
AL West:
An exciting three team race here widened the gap a bit last week for the Mariners (10-7-1). After defeating the now third place Rangers (8-9-1) last week, the Mariners hold a 1.5 game lead over the Angels (9-9-0) who lost to the Tigers last week. Seattle also has the easiest remaining schedule, as the Angels will face the Rays next week while the Rangers face the Blue Jays in 2 weeks. The Athletics have been mathematically eliminated.
AL Wild Card:
With the Jays and Rays having both clinched playoff spots, the wild card will serve as the consolation prize for the AL East pennant race.
Games to watch this week
Dodgers - Diamondbacks: This is a must win for the Dodgers, who look to avoid falling 2 games behind the Giants for the wild card.
Giants - Nationals: A possible playoff preview as the current Wild Card leader takes on the current NL East winner.
Phillies - Braves: The Phillies are looking to catch up to the Nats in the NL East, and just might do so this week if the Giants do their part.
Rockies - Reds: While they're eliminated from the playoffs, Colorado can still play spoiler in that close NL Central race by beating the defending pro-gm champions.
Astros - Brewers: Can the rebuilding Astros overtake the defending champs?
Cubs - Pirates: Only a game out and a relatively easier schedule, can the Cubs begin their climb back to the top of the NL Central?
Blue Jays - Athletics: The Jays look to stay atop the AL.
Rays - Twins: Just a game behind the Jays for the AL East, the Rays are looking for a big push at the end of the season.
Mariners - Orioles: Can the Mariners continue to pull away from the pack in the AL West?
Angels - Yankees: Angels looking to stay alive in the AL West.
Red Sox - Rangers: Rangers also looking to stay alive.
Tigers - Royals: Having already clinched their division, the Tigers are setting their sights on the #1 seed in the AL.
Quick note on tiebreakers:
1) If two teams finish tied for first place in a division, the division winner will be the team with the best record within the division (listed on the league standings under "div").
2) If teams remain tied, Yahoo then looks at winning percentage for the final week of the season, followed by winning percentage for the second-to-last week, followed by the third-to-last week, etc. Basically, it just goes backwards until it reaches a point where one team has a better recent-record than the other. In the event of a wild card tie, only this second tiebreaker is used. This second tiebreaker will also be used to determine playoff seeding if two division winners have the same record.
3) In the event of a three-(or more)-way tie atop a division that is also a three-(or more)-way tie for the Wild Card, the division winner is determined by the first method and the Wild Card winner is determined by the second.
NL East:
After falling victim to the Diamondbacks last week, the Phillies (10-7-1) fell a game behind the Nationals (11-6-1) for the division lead. The Nats however have tough matchups this week against the Giants and next week against the Dodgers so watch for some jockeying at the top spot of this division as these two clubs fight it out. The Braves, Mets, and Marlins have all been mathematically eliminated from contention making this a 2 team race.
NL Central:
The Reds (11-7-0) defeated the Cubs (10-8-0) last week to take sole possession of the division lead. The Astros (10-7-1) sit a half game behind the Reds after a dominant win over the Cardinals last week. Cincinnati has a tough matchup in the final week against the Giants, and the Astros will have a tough one against the Dodgers in the second to last week, leaving the Cubs with the easiest remaining schedule and a reasonable chance to climb from 3rd to 1st before season's end. The Cardinals, Brewers, and Pirates have all been mathematically eliminated from contention.
NL West:
With the top record in the NL, the Diamondbacks (17-1-0) are on the verge of clinching the playoffs with one more victory. They sit 3 games ahead of the NL's second best team by record, the Giants (14-4-0), and 4 games ahead of the NL's third best team, the Dodgers (13-5-0). With the 3 best teams in the league all in one division, it's going to be quite the final 4 weeks to watch in this division. The Diamondbacks will be very hard to catch, but a win by the Dodgers in this week's divisional matchup could make that race a bit more interesting.
NL Wild Card:
The Giants hold a 1 game lead over the Dodgers for the wild card and have an easier schedule down the stretch (particularly this week with the Dodgers facing the NL best Diamondbacks). With 4 weeks to go, the Astros and Phillies sit 3.5 games back, tied for 3rd place in the Wildcard race. The Cubs are 4 games out. All other teams are mathematically eliminated.
AL East:
The Blue Jays (15-1-2) hold the AL's #1 seed and have clinched a playoff birth, as have the Rays (14-2-2) who sit just one game behind. Both teams will face the Tigers in the final few weeks, leaving the schedules relatively even. Should the division end up tied (the Jays would have to lose one more than the Rays the rest of the way), the Jays would hold the 1st tie breaker as they swept their divisional matchups this season. The Red Sox, Yankees, and Orioles have all been mathematically eliminated.
AL Central:
The Tigers (14-0-4) are the #2 seed in the AL, tied for best record but behind the Jays due to the recent record tiebreaker. With a 5.5 game lead over Cleveland and only 4 weeks to go, the Tigers have clinched the AL Central division.
AL West:
An exciting three team race here widened the gap a bit last week for the Mariners (10-7-1). After defeating the now third place Rangers (8-9-1) last week, the Mariners hold a 1.5 game lead over the Angels (9-9-0) who lost to the Tigers last week. Seattle also has the easiest remaining schedule, as the Angels will face the Rays next week while the Rangers face the Blue Jays in 2 weeks. The Athletics have been mathematically eliminated.
AL Wild Card:
With the Jays and Rays having both clinched playoff spots, the wild card will serve as the consolation prize for the AL East pennant race.
Games to watch this week
Dodgers - Diamondbacks: This is a must win for the Dodgers, who look to avoid falling 2 games behind the Giants for the wild card.
Giants - Nationals: A possible playoff preview as the current Wild Card leader takes on the current NL East winner.
Phillies - Braves: The Phillies are looking to catch up to the Nats in the NL East, and just might do so this week if the Giants do their part.
Rockies - Reds: While they're eliminated from the playoffs, Colorado can still play spoiler in that close NL Central race by beating the defending pro-gm champions.
Astros - Brewers: Can the rebuilding Astros overtake the defending champs?
Cubs - Pirates: Only a game out and a relatively easier schedule, can the Cubs begin their climb back to the top of the NL Central?
Blue Jays - Athletics: The Jays look to stay atop the AL.
Rays - Twins: Just a game behind the Jays for the AL East, the Rays are looking for a big push at the end of the season.
Mariners - Orioles: Can the Mariners continue to pull away from the pack in the AL West?
Angels - Yankees: Angels looking to stay alive in the AL West.
Red Sox - Rangers: Rangers also looking to stay alive.
Tigers - Royals: Having already clinched their division, the Tigers are setting their sights on the #1 seed in the AL.