October is (Almost) Set

10/03/2022 October is (Almost) Set

By: Jeff Yoder

Mariners Break Playoff Drought With Raleigh’s Walk-Off: Rays & Padres Also Clinch Postseason Berths

A fun weekend of pre-postseason (yes, that’s right) baseball hit the diamond over the weekend with a few times in do-or-die mode. Three teams clinched, adding to the eight teams already in prior to the weekend. The Rays and Padres added their names to the postseason list, but the Mariners clinched in the most dramatic way possible. With two outs and a full count in the bottom of the 9th inning, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh smashed a walk-off homer to put Seattle in the playoffs. Raleigh’s blast effectively ended a 21-year drought — the longest active streak in all four American professional sports.

 

That means 11 of the 12 postseason spots are locked up, and the only remaining National League Wild Card comes down to the Phillies and Brewers. The American League is wrapped up, but there’s still room for movement between the Wild Card teams. The NL East is the only division title still up for grabs between the Braves and Mets. Here’s a look at the playoff picture with three days left in the regular season.

 

MLB Playoff Picture

 

American League

AL East: Yankees (97-61)

AL Central: Guardians (90-69)

AL West: Astros (104-55)

AL Wild Card: Blue Jays (90-69)

AL Wild Card: Mariners (87-71)

AL Wild Card: Rays (86-73)

 

National League

NL East: Braves (100-59)

NL Central: Cardinals (92-67)

NL West: Dodgers (110-49)

NL Wild Card: Mets (98-61)

NL Wild Card: Padres (87-72)

NL Wild Card: Phillies (86-73)*

In The Hunt: Brewers (84-75)*

*Not Decided

 

MLB Quick-Hitters

 

Pujols Hits 702: Albert Pujols gave the Cardinals faithful a fitting moment on Sunday with his 702nd home run in his final regular-season home game. The Cards fell to the Pirates (7-5).

 

Teoscar Takes 2: The Blue Jays punched their playoff ticket late last week, but Teoscar Hernandez wasn’t waiting for October. The Toronto outfielder went 3-for-4 with two homers in the Jays’ win over the Red Sox (6-3).

 

Wheeler’s Gem Fuels Phillies: Zack Wheeler tossed seven strikeouts in a scoreless five innings to lead the Phillies over the Nationals on Sunday (8-1), effectively cutting Philly’s magic number to just one. That means one Philadelphia win or one Milwaukee loss this week puts the Phillies in the playoffs.

 

Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images