Reminder: AL/NL Play In Games

[joeizzo]

Reminder about the end of the season and play in games that may be scheduled in both the National and American Leagues.  The play in games to qualify for the wildcard or decide a division winner count as regular season games in our rules.  So, depending on today's results the regular season may be continuing for a day (or two!) for our American, National, and Mixed leagues.  NL could have an extra day should the Giants and Dodgers finish tied today.  Lots of possibilities for play in games in the AL.  If the Yankees and Red Sox both win (or they both lose and the Blue Jays and Mariners both lose) then no play in games would be needed.  All AL scenarios posted below per MLB.com

www.mlb.com/news/american-league-tiebreaker-matchups-locations-for-2021

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.



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.

[geoflin]

Questions regarding the above- if there are play in games in either league, I assume that transactions for those leagues submitted after noon today are valid. But what about charged transactions - is it a new week and everybody gets 2 more or is it a continuation of this week? And if there are no play in games in a league are transactions for that league submitted after noon today invalid?

[joeizzo]

1. If there are games tomorrow and/or Tuesday then transactions after noon on Sunday would be valid, otherwise they should be denied since the transaction period would be closed for the season.
2. Each owner gets 2 new charges if there are play in games.

[Crosley]

I have a situation in Bell with a post-regular season transaction that I have denied. The player being claimed is NOT on a team that could be involved in any tiebreaker game; the player being reserved is on a team that may play beyond game 162. It seems to me that this claim should be denied, as it technically does not involve an "active" player.

[joeizzo]

Oct 3, 2021 22:13:36 GMT Crosley said:

I have a situation in Bell with a post-regular season transaction that I have denied. The player being claimed is NOT on a team that could be involved in any tiebreaker game; the player being reserved is on a team that may play beyond game 162. It seems to me that this claim should be denied, as it technically does not involve an "active" player.

Since there will be no play in games, it seems you ruled correctly be denying.

[joeizzo]

As I just wrote, there will be no play in games so the transaction period for 2021 has closed as of noon today. Assuming LAs have processed all outstanding transactions then the standings that you see tomorrow in OnRoto should be final. Congrats to the winners!