Oct 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez (41) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
After days of speculation about potential tiebreaking playoffs and even the need for a makeup game following a rainout, the baseball postseason picture was completed Sunday on the final day of the regular season.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles won their games to clinch the two American League wild cards, while the San Francisco Giants earned a victory to claim the last National League wild card.
The Blue Jays (89-73) will play host to the Orioles (89-73) in the AL wild-card game Tuesday. Toronto earned home field thanks to a 10-9 head-to-head edge on Baltimore this year.
The Giants (87-75) must travel to New York to face the Mets (87-75) in the NL wild-card game on Wednesday. The Mets won four of the teams’ seven matchups this season.
Toronto wrapped up a postseason berth with a 2-1 win over the Red Sox in Boston. Baltimore recorded a 5-2 win over the Yankees in New York.
San Francisco topped the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 7-1.
The AL wild-card winner earns a spot in the best-of-five division series against the West champion Texas Rangers (95-66), with the opener set for Thursday. The other ALDS sees the East champion Red Sox (93-69) visit the Central champion Cleveland Indians (94-67), also opening Thursday.
NL Division Series play begins Friday with the West champion Dodgers (91-71) traveling to oppose the East champion Washington Nationals (95-67) on Friday. The team with baseball’s best record, the Central champion Chicago Cubs (103-58), will play host to the NL wild-card winner on Friday.
Two teams were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday. The St. Louis Cardinals (86-76) needed a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates plus a San Francisco loss to force a tiebreaker on Monday. The Cardinals topped the Pirates 10-4, but the Giants took care of business against the Dodgers.
The Detroit Tigers (86-75) needed to win Sunday, have either Toronto or Baltimore lose, and then win a makeup game against the Indians on Monday just to force a tiebreaking game for a wild-card berth. All those scenarios became moot when the Tigers lost 1-0 to the Braves in the final game at Atlanta’s Turner Field.
