2014 Playoff Picture
Aug 25, 2014 14:06:59 GMT -5
Post by Brian (Blue Jays GM) on Aug 25, 2014 14:06:59 GMT -5
National League:
The Mets have clinched the NL East division title. They seem destined for the #4 seed in the NL playoffs as they trail the #3 seeded Giants by 2 games with 2 to go. A Giants win/tie or a Mets loss/tie in either of the final 2 weeks locks the Mets into the #4 seed.
Speaking of the Giants, they've clinched the NL West division title. Currently the #3 seed, the Giants sit a half game behind the Cubs for the #2 seed.
In the NL Central, the Brewers hold the NL's best record and a 1.5 game lead over the Cubs. The Astros remain mathematically alive in the Wild Card race, trailing the Cubs by 2 games with 2 remaining.
Key Matchups:
Week 21 - Giants vs Cubs, should determine the fate of the #2 seed, as well as having a major impact on the fate of the Astros (Cubs win/tie = Astros are eliminated, Cubs loss = Astros 1 game back with 1 to go assuming the Astros beat the Diamondbacks)
Week 22 - Mets vs. Cubs, the Cubs certainly don't have an easy final 2 weeks with 2 playoff-bound opponents, if the Cubs fail to beat the Giants in week 21, this outcome of this matchup could determine the wildcard and the final seeding in the NL
American League:
The Angels have clinched the AL West division title and currently hold the #4 seed. The Blue Jays, having clinched the AL East division title, currently hold the #3 seed with an identical record to the Angels due to the win streak tie breaker (the Jays defeated the Angels in week 19). Both teams sit a half game behind the #2 seeded White Sox.
The real race is in the AL Central where the top 3 teams are all within 1 game of the division lead. The current leader and AL #1 seed is the Tigers. A half game behind them is the Wild-card leading White Sox, who lead the Indians by a half-game. Due to their having an identical record to the #3 and 4 seeded Jays and Angels, the Indians are currently also in position to receive a contender's discount if they fail to reach the playoffs.
Key Matchups:
Week 21 - Tigers vs Rays and Indians vs Mariners, the Tigers have the toughest opponent of any of the Central teams in week 21 and the Rays could certainly play spoiler for the current #1 seed. Meanwhile the Indians also get a very strong opponent in the Mariners, a loss for the Indians could push them out of the playoff picture and a possible discount. The White Sox (facing the 4-16-0 Twins) will be watching both of these matchups very closely.
Week 22 - Tigers vs Blue Jays, Indians vs Angels, and White Sox vs Mariners. All 3 Central contenders draw tough matchups in the final week of the season. The White Sox, for the second straight week, appear to have the most winnable matchup of the 3. The Central and Wild Card will ultimately be decided by the results of the final week's matchups.
The Mets have clinched the NL East division title. They seem destined for the #4 seed in the NL playoffs as they trail the #3 seeded Giants by 2 games with 2 to go. A Giants win/tie or a Mets loss/tie in either of the final 2 weeks locks the Mets into the #4 seed.
Speaking of the Giants, they've clinched the NL West division title. Currently the #3 seed, the Giants sit a half game behind the Cubs for the #2 seed.
In the NL Central, the Brewers hold the NL's best record and a 1.5 game lead over the Cubs. The Astros remain mathematically alive in the Wild Card race, trailing the Cubs by 2 games with 2 remaining.
Key Matchups:
Week 21 - Giants vs Cubs, should determine the fate of the #2 seed, as well as having a major impact on the fate of the Astros (Cubs win/tie = Astros are eliminated, Cubs loss = Astros 1 game back with 1 to go assuming the Astros beat the Diamondbacks)
Week 22 - Mets vs. Cubs, the Cubs certainly don't have an easy final 2 weeks with 2 playoff-bound opponents, if the Cubs fail to beat the Giants in week 21, this outcome of this matchup could determine the wildcard and the final seeding in the NL
American League:
The Angels have clinched the AL West division title and currently hold the #4 seed. The Blue Jays, having clinched the AL East division title, currently hold the #3 seed with an identical record to the Angels due to the win streak tie breaker (the Jays defeated the Angels in week 19). Both teams sit a half game behind the #2 seeded White Sox.
The real race is in the AL Central where the top 3 teams are all within 1 game of the division lead. The current leader and AL #1 seed is the Tigers. A half game behind them is the Wild-card leading White Sox, who lead the Indians by a half-game. Due to their having an identical record to the #3 and 4 seeded Jays and Angels, the Indians are currently also in position to receive a contender's discount if they fail to reach the playoffs.
Key Matchups:
Week 21 - Tigers vs Rays and Indians vs Mariners, the Tigers have the toughest opponent of any of the Central teams in week 21 and the Rays could certainly play spoiler for the current #1 seed. Meanwhile the Indians also get a very strong opponent in the Mariners, a loss for the Indians could push them out of the playoff picture and a possible discount. The White Sox (facing the 4-16-0 Twins) will be watching both of these matchups very closely.
Week 22 - Tigers vs Blue Jays, Indians vs Angels, and White Sox vs Mariners. All 3 Central contenders draw tough matchups in the final week of the season. The White Sox, for the second straight week, appear to have the most winnable matchup of the 3. The Central and Wild Card will ultimately be decided by the results of the final week's matchups.
