MLB Pennant Race 2024: One More Day

It's not over yet, folks!

This day, September 29, 2024, was originally set as the final day of the 2024 regular season. The normal final day schedule was set, with every game starting at nearly the same time, just a few minutes apart. However, Hurricane Helene's rampage in the Southeast forced the last two games of the series between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves to be pushed to Monday, September 30, pending the outcome of the original final day's games.

The aforementioned two teams entered this day in a tight race for the remaining two Wild Card spots in the National League. There's also a third team in this mix: the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Magic Numbers were as follows: the Braves could get in with a win (1), the Mets needed a win and a Diamondbacks loss (2), and the D'Backs needed a win and both Atlanta and New York to lose (3). Several other outcomes could see the doubleheader needed, but a Mets win and a Diamondbacks loss would have seen the doubleheader canceled. The same went for the Braves and Mets both winning.

However, on this day, the Mets fought back against the Brewers; responded to being shutout on Saturday by blanking the Brew Crew themselves. So if the Diamondbacks lose, then the Mets and Braves would get in. But Arizona decided to finally get their bats going, and they blew out the already postseason bound San Diego Padres, 11-2. So Arizona's win has forced the doubleheader to be necessary, as the Mets did not clinch. The Braves still could, but they came up short at home against the Kansas City Royals, losing 4-2.

And therein lies the conundrum.

So the American League is all complete. In one Wild Card Series, the Houston Astros will host the Detroit Tigers, while the other will feature the Baltimore Orioles hosting the Kansas City Royals. The New York Yankees have the #1 seed, and the Cleveland Guardians have the #2 seed. In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be the #1 seed, and the Philadelphia Phillies will be the #2 seed. The Milwaukee Brewers and the San Diego Padres will host Wild Card Series, but against who? Here's how it will be determined:

Braves/Mets Doubleheader

It's been a tough road for the Braves this season. Basically, anyone who can swing a bat or throw a pitch has ended up injured. Yet despite this, the Braves did just enough to stay alive in the hunt, and here they are, one win away from another postseason appearance. The Mets are in the same boat, though the odds they faced were basically getting in their own way in games. Nevertheless, they are one win away from their second postseason appearance in three seasons. Absolutely amazing.

The Braves lead the season series, 6-5, so a win would not only put them in the postseason, it would clinch the season series as well. As a result, the Braves would be off to San Diego for the Wild Card Series. As for the Mets, while a win would put them in the postseason, they would need to sweep the doubleheader to move to the second Wild Card position and face the Padres in a rematch from 2022. Otherwise, a win from both teams would see the Mets back in Milwaukee, where New York's regular season ended.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Here's a trivial note. The last time that both defending pennant winners missed the playoffs? All the way back in 2007. The defending champion Texas Rangers are already done for, and the Arizona Diamondbacks went from being in a prime Wild Card position (at one point, they held the #1 Wild Card position--a home field spot) to being behind the line. The win in their 162nd and last game kept hope alive for the Diamondbacks to defend their National League pennant. Now they'll spend six hours of their day watching and waiting.

What are they waiting for? A sweep. That's their only way in. The Diamondbacks finished at 89-73. The Braves and Mets are 88-72. A split in the doubleheader would tie all three teams at 89-73. One problem. Both Atlanta and New York won their season series over Arizona. So yeah, the Diamondbacks cannot have a split. They need a sweep in that doubleheader, one way or the other. Basically, Game One will determine which team the Diamondbacks and their fans will root for in Game Two. Whoever wins Game One will be the team to root for in Game Two if you're a D'Backs fan.

So an extra day is now needed, but it will be quite an interesting day in sports. The Mets/Braves doubleheader, and then Monday Night Football. And the ESPN networks will have all of it on lockdown. Very, very exciting!