2021 Playoff Preview

[Flash]

American League
1: :LAA: 131-15 - AL West Winner
2: :TB: or :NYY: 96-50 AL East (:TB: has H2H advantage)
3: :MIN: 95-51 AL Central Winner
4: :HOU2: 113-33 AL Wild Card #1
5: :SEA: 98-48 AL Wild Card #2


National League
1: :COL: 126-20 - NL West Winner
2: :STL:  126-20 - NL Central Winner
3: :PHI:  118-28 - NL East Winner
4: :SF: 121-25 - NL Wild Card #1
5: :LAD: 114-32 NL Wild Card #2

Going into the final two weeks of the season,  the playoff teams are pretty well set with exception of the AL East and the 2nd Wild Card spot in the American League. 

The race between the  :TB: and the :NYY: is deadlocked, so each team controls their own destiny.  The :SEA: holds a two game lead for the 2nd Wild Card spot, so it?s conceivable that a stumble on the :SEA: part could lead to them falling out of the Wild Card matchup in favor of either :TB: or :NYY: but I?m sure the :SEA: will do all they can to guard against a disastrous letdown.  It could come down to the tiebreakers of H2H matchups or total points scored.  Those tiebreakers will be posted at the end of this week.

In both the American League and the National League, the dominant teams seem to be in the West.  As it currently stands, the playoffs will feature three teams from the AL West and three teams from the NL West. 

The :LAA: have dominated the American League this season and is currently the #1 seed  of all the teams in FGM.  Not to be outdone, the :COL: have had a strong season too and sits atop the overall standings as the #2 seed and #1 in the National League.

Stay tuned for more updates as the playoff picture sharpens into focus.

[Flash]

:TB: - :NYY: Tiebreakers:

1: H2H Matchups - :TB: leads :NYY: 10-8 with one to play.  :TB: wins if there is a tie with :NYY: - The schedule is set up with 19 H2H matchups with each Division member, so there can never be a tie in H2H unless there is a tie in weekly points, which I don?t ever recall happening.  H2H matchups also apply to Wild Card teams.

2: Points Scored - If there is a tie in H2H matchups, then points scored becomes the tiebreaker.  Currently, :SEA: enjoys about a 4,000 point advantage over :NYY: and about a 5000 point advantage over :TB:

:SEA: vs :NYY: - 2-4
:SEA: vs :TB: - 4-2

It would appear that the only way :TB: makes the playoffs is by winning the AL East.  :SEA: holds both tiebreakers over :TB: and trails :SEA: by two games for the final Wild Card spot.

:NYY: could make the playoffs by winning the AL East.  However, if :NYY: manages to overcome :SEA: two game lead and ties or goes ahead, then :NYY: would scoot into the final Wild Card spot.

Anything is possible, but :SEA: seems to be in control of its destiny.

More to come at the conclusion of this week?s schedule.

[Flash]

Going into the final week of the regular season, the playoffs are starting to come into focus.  As it stands right now, here?s what we?re looking at:

American League
1: :LAA: 136-18 - AL West Winner
2: :TB: 103-51 AL East (:TB: has H2H advantage)
3: :MIN: 95-51 AL Central Winner
4: :HOU2: 119-35 AL Wild Card #1
5: :SEA: 105-49 AL Wild Card #2

The AL East race between :TB: and :NYY: is no longer a tie.  :TB: now has a 1 game lead as :NYY: finds itself with a record of 102-52.  Since :TB: has possession of the H2H tiebreaker, :NYY: must win 2 more games than :TB: in this final week to win the AL East.

With a record of 105-49, :SEA: enjoys a 3 game lead over the :NYY: and a 2 game lead over the :TB:  The :SEA: also has a favorable schedule during this final week of the season.  Two game matchups with :SD: :CIN: :CLE: and :ATL: ? all non-playoff teams. 

At the moment, unless something unforeseen happens, the AL Wild Card matchup will be between #4 :HOU2: and #5 :SEA:

The ALDS will feature:
Wild Card Winner vs #1 :LAA:
#3 :MIN2: vs #2 AL East Winner


National League
1: :COL: 134-20 - NL West Winner
2: :STL:  134-20 - NL Central Winner
3: :PHI:  122-32 - NL East Winner
4: :SF: 128-26 - NL Wild Card #1
5: :LAD: 117-37 - NL Wild Card #2

In the National League, the playoff picture is a lot clearer  :COL: and :STL: are still battling it out for the #1 Seed, and as luck would have it, they are matched up in a two game set during this final week.  With that, :COL: also plays the :CIN: :NYM: and :TEX:  :STL: other games during this final week are against :KC: :ATL: and :SD:

As it stands, the NL playoff picture is as follows:

Wild Card matchup:
#5 :LAD: vs :SF:

NLDS
Wild Card Winner vs #1 Seed (:COL: or :STL:)
#3 :PHI: vs #2 Seed (:COL: or :STL:)

[Flash]

Update on the Road to the Playoffs:

As of today, Thursday, August 19th, things are looking bleak for the :NYY:  Now we all know things can dramatically change if a team?s hitters get hot, or your opponents? hitters go 0 for forever, but as of today, the :NYY: is on the short end of all 8 matchups, most by a considerable margin.  At the same time :TB: is in the lead of all 8 matchups. In order for :SEA: to get bumped from the Wild Card spot, the :NYY: must come out 4 games ahead of :SEA: to move into at least a tie and get the nod because of their advantage in the H2H matchups.

Four more days of baseball and we?ll know who enters into the playoffs as the AL East winner and the Wild Card matchup as the #5 seed.  Should be interesting.

[Flash]

Saturday, August 21st prior to today?s games, here?s the update:

It looks like :TB: will enter the playoffs with the AL East crown.  With the exception of their two game set with the :CHW: - where the :TB: hold a 60 point lead, the :TB: enjoy comfortable leads in their three other two game matchups. 

The :SEA: also lead each of their four two game series, with the closest being a 86 point margin over the :ATL:  :SEA: looks poised to enter the playoffs as the #5 seed and will play next week in a Wild Card matchup with the :HOU2:.

Finally, the :NYY: are on the outside looking in.  The Bronx Bombers have fallen behind in all their games.  As we all know, there are times when our opponents catch fire and such is the case with two of the :NYY: opponents:  the :TEX: and the :NYM:. 

Two days of fantasy play in the regular season and the playoffs seem to have taken form.  Final update after tomorrow?s games.

[Flash]

The playoff seeding was finalized this week.  The :TB: went 8-0 in the final week to win the AL East.  The :SEA: also went 8-0 to secure the final AL Wild Card spot. 

Here are the final regular season records of the 10 playoff teams:

American League
1: :LAA: 140-22 - AL West Winner
2: :TB: 111 - 51 AL East Winner
3: :MIN: 105 - 57 AL Central Winner
4: :HOU2: 127 - 32 AL Wild Card #1
5: :SEA: 113 - 49 AL Wild Card #2


National League
1: :COL: 140-22 - NL West Winner
2: :STL:  138 - 24 - NL Central Winner
3: :PHI:  130 - 32  - NL East Winner
4: :SF: 133 - 29 - NL Wild Card #1
5: :LAD: 123 - 39 NL Wild Card #2

Wild Card Week August 23 - 29

AL Wild Card Matchup
#5 :SEA: vs. #4 :HOU2:

AL Wild Card Matchup
#5 :LAD: vs. #4 :SF: