Monday’s results were great for the massive tie scenario in both the AL and NL. Every team chasing the Braves in the NL gained at least 1/2 a game, and the wild card teams all gained 1/2 games on the Phillies. In the AL, the Red Sox beat the Rays while the Yankees lost to Baltimore. On top of that the Twins and White Sox both won, so let’s expand the AL scenario to include both those teams. A five-way tie in the AL would result in a two day playoff to determine the AL East winner, a one-game playoff to determine the AL Central winner, and a two-day playoff to determine the wild card. The following results would give each of the five AL teams in contention 99 wins.
- Boston Red Sox 22-2
- Chicago White Sox 22-3
- Minnesota Twins 18-6
- Tampa Bay Rays 16-9
- New York Yankees 13-11
The Red and White Sox play each other four times, so they would need to split those games to make the above tie possible. I don’t expect this to hold up for very long, but it should be fun while it lasts.
A six way tie in the NL looks like this:
- Colorado Rockies 22-3
- St. Louis Cardinals 23-4
- San Francisco Giants 18-6
- San Diego Padres 18-8
- Philadelphia Phillies 16-7
- Atlanta Braves 16-8
Unlike in the AL, the teams are close enough that every one could post a very good record and still make the tie. There are a number of permutations that can work here. If the Rockies go 19-5, for example, Atlanta can produce a winning record and still tie.
Here’s what I’d like to see happen today to encourage these scenarios:
- Chicago White Sox defeat Detroit
- New York Yankees lose to Baltimore
- Philadelphia falls to Florida
- Atlanta loses to Pittsburgh
- Boston defeats Tampa Bay
- St. Louis defeats Milwaukee
- Minnesota defeats Kansas City
- Colorado defeats Cincinnnat
- San Francisco defeats Arizona
- San Diego loses to Los Angeles