There’s complete chaos in the National League Wild Card race as the Mets and Braves face off in a Monday doubleheader to decide the postseason fate for three teams. New York and Atlanta each control its own destiny while the Diamondbacks will watch at home, praying for one team to sweep the other.
All the Mets and Braves both need to do is win one of the two games played on Monday to secure the final two Wild Card spots. Seeding is also on the line, but that’s obviously secondary to reaching the MLB postseason.
So, how did we end up here?
The league decided the Mets and Braves would play a Monday doubleheader after Hurricane Helene rained out two games between them last week. It's less than ideal considering the Wild Card Round begins on Tuesday. However, it’s the only way to squeeze both games in before the postseason begins.
There were eight permutations for how Sunday could play out for all three teams. Only one scenario guaranteed that both doubleheader games would be played, and, of course, that’s the one that played out as the Mets and Diamondbacks won while the Braves lost.
The winner of Game 1 on Monday punches their ticket to the MLB playoffs. That requires the other team to win the second in order to join them in the Wild Card Round. Otherwise, if it’s a sweep, the Diamondbacks sneak into the postseason while the loser of both games watches the playoffs from home.
Whoever secures the fifth seed will travel west to take on the Padres, who secured the first Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the sixth-seed heads to Milwaukee to take on the NL Central-champion Brewers.
