MLB
What do the Atlanta Braves need to advance to the playoffs in the MLB Wild Card Round?
The playoffs line-up is taking shape with the Yankees, Orioles, Guardians, Tigers, Royals, Astros, Phillies, Brewers, Dodgers and Padres all through.
The teams that have qualified for the postseason in the MLB American League have been defined, but the last two available tickets in the National League are still up for grabs and three teams remain in the fight: the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks.
The New York Mets and the Braves will play for their lives in a doubleheader this Monday, September 30 at Truist Park in Atlanta and the history of accessing the playoffs is completely in their hands, because:
- If each wins one game, both the Mets and Braves advance to the playoffs; and eliminate the Arizona Diamondbacks
- If Braves win both games: Braves and D-Backs go to playoffs
- If Mets win both games: Mets and D-Backs go to playoffs
A detailed explanation...
If the Mets and Braves split a doubleheader win and both advance to the playoffs: The Braves would be the No. 5 seed and play the San Diego Padres, while the Mets would secure the No. 6 seed and face the Brewers.
If either team wins both games, the winning team secures the No. 5 seed and would face the Padres; the team that loses both games is automatically eliminated. The D-Backs would be No. 6 and would play the Brewers.
Getting that win won’t be easy, as the Braves lost on Sunday, ending a five-game win streak. They will also need to win a game. If the Braves had won on Sunday, they would have had nothing to play for on Monday except playoff seeding.
However, now the Braves risk being eliminated if the Mets sweep the doubleheader.