As we head into Sunday’s action, the Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays and Mariners are still in the mix for the two American League Wild Card spots. Below are the potential matchups and venues for the different tiebreaker scenarios on Monday — and possibly Tuesday as well.
On Sunday morning, the matchups and locations for each potential tiebreaker scenario were announced. But if you’re looking for a complete guide to how those scenarios were decided, read below.
Scenario #1: 4-Way Tie for 2 Wild Card Spots (BOS, NYY, SEA, & TOR)
Monday, October 4:
NYY @ BOS
SEA @ TOR
Seeding: The seeding for the four-way tie would be, in order, BOS, TOR, NYY and SEA. That means BOS and TOR each chose to play at home. NYY then chose to play BOS — which it has beat in six straight — over TOR, so SEA then gets TOR.
The winners of each game advance to the AL Wild Card Game to be played on Tuesday at the home park of the club with the better head-to-head regular season schedule (based on original 162).
Based on head-to-head records from the regular season, here is where each potential Wild Card matchup would be played if we end up with a four-way tie:
NYY vs. TOR, Blue Jays host
NYY vs. SEA, Yankees host
BOS vs. TOR, Red Sox host
BOS vs. SEA, Red Sox host
Scenario #2: 3-Way Tie for 1 Wild Card Spot (BOS, SEA & TOR; NYY Wild Card)
Monday, October 4:
TOR @ SEA
Tuesday, October 5:
BOS @ TOR/SEA Winner
Seeding: BOS is the top seed and chose to win one on the road rather than two at home. SEA is the No. 2 seed and obviously chose to play at home vs. TOR, which could still host a home game Tuesday if it beats SEA on the road.
The winner of Tuesday’s game advances to the AL Wild Card Game at New York on Wednesday.
Scenario #3: 3-Way Tie for 1 Wild Card Spot (NYY, SEA & TOR; BOS Wild Card)
Monday, October 4:
SEA @ NYY
Tuesday, October 5:
TOR @ SEA/NYY Winner
Seeding: TOR is the top seed and they also choose to win one on the road rather than two at home. NYY is the No. 2 seed and get to start at home, while SEA is forced to play the hand they’re dealt.
The winner of Tuesday’s game advances to the AL Wild Card Game at Boston on Wednesday.
Scenario #4: 3-Way Tie for 2 Wild Card Spots (NYY, TOR & BOS; Seattle eliminated)
Monday, October 4:
TOR @ BOS
Tuesday, October 5:
TOR/BOS Loser @ NYY
Seeding: BOS holds the top spot and elects to play at home on Monday, getting two shots to get in (it plays at NYY on Tuesday if it loses Monday). TOR has the No. 2 seed and chooses to play on road on Monday, also with two shots to get in. NYY as the final seed gets a home game on Tuesday, but that’s their only shot to earn a Wild Card spot.
The winners from Monday and Tuesday play on Wednesday at the club with the better head-to-head regular-season schedule (based on original 162).
Scenario #5: 3-Way Tie for 2 Wild Card Spots (NYY, BOS & SEA; Toronto eliminated)
Monday, October 4:
NYY @ BOS
Tuesday, October 5:
NYY/BOS Loser @ SEA
Seeding: The seeding here is BOS, NYY, SEA, in that order. BOS makes the same choice — starting at home with two shots to get in. NYY makes the choice TOR made in Scenario 4, leaving SEA with the one shot at home to get in spot.
The winners of each game would advance to the AL Wild Card Game to be played on Wednesday at the club with the better head-to-head regular-season schedule (based on original 162).
Scenario #6: 2-Way Tie for 1 Wild Card Spot
Monday, October 4:
TOR @ BOS
or
SEA @ BOS
or
SEA @ NYY
or
NYY @ TOR
The winner of this game would advance to the AL Wild Card Game to be played on Tuesday at home of the top AL Wild Card seed.