The baseball season is going to extra innings.
As the American League playoff picture became clearer on Sunday, the National League It remains undefined ahead of what would be a day off before the postseason.
American League West champion Houston hosts Detroit, and Baltimore plays at home against Kansas City in the best-of-three Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday afternoon. The winner of Astros-Tigers faces American League Central champion Cleveland in the best-of-five Division Series starting Saturday. The winner of Orioles-Royals plays the American League East Division champions, the New York Yankees.
The National League remains uncertain as rain last week delayed some matches. The New York MetsArizona and Atlanta fighting for the last two wild card spots. The Mets traveled back to Atlanta on Sunday and will play a doubleheader on Monday against the Braves.
Arizona finished 89-73 and the Mets and Braves are 88-72. If either team wins both of the doubleheader, the Diamondbacks will make the playoffs. But if the doubleheader is split, the Mets and Braves advance and Arizona is out because the Diamondbacks lost their season series to New York and Atlanta.
Arizona can only be the No. 6 seed if it reaches the postseason and would play a Division Series against the AL Central champion. National LeagueMilwaukee.
If the Braves win either game of the doubleheader, they would play a Division Series in San Diego.
If the Mets sweep the doubleheader, they will become the No. 5 seed and play in San Diego starting Tuesday. If they split and are the No. 6 seed, they return to Milwaukee to face the Brewers.
Mets right-hander Tylor Megill (4-5) and Atlanta rookie Spencer Schwellenbach (8-7) were scheduled to start the first game of the doubleheader.
Dominican right-hander Luis Severino (11-7) and Braves ace Chris Sale (18-3) were lined up for Game 2, but a team that won Game 1 would likely save that starting pitcher for Game 1 of a Division Series on Tuesday.
