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Wild Card Race Heats Up: Order Matters
24 Sep
Summary
- Wild card order may determine playoff game locations.
- Chicago holds tiebreakers over San Diego and Philadelphia.
- Top wild card hosts best-of-three series starting Sept. 29.
The National League wild card race has intensified, with the final order of teams now significantly impacting playoff positioning and potential home-field advantage. As of Thursday, September 24th, San Diego holds a slim one-game lead for the top wild card spot.
Behind the Padres, the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies are tied. The Cubs possess an advantage with head-to-head tiebreakers over both San Diego and Philadelphia, which could prove crucial if teams finish with identical records. Philadelphia holds a tiebreaker over San Diego but not Chicago, making their path more complex.
MLB's tiebreaking rules will be utilized if necessary, as there will be no Game 163 to decide standings. The remaining schedule presents challenges, including a rescheduled game for the Cubs in Boston due to a predicted nor'easter.
The top wild card team will host a best-of-three series commencing on September 29th. The lower wild card seeds will face road trips, underscoring the importance of securing a higher seed. With only a few games remaining, none of the contending teams can afford to treat these final days as inconsequential.
