How Phillies, Astros, Rangers, Dbacks Can Clinch on Final Day of MLB Season
The Phillies lost on the penultimate day of the regular season and lead the Diamondbacks by one game for a wild-card berth.
The Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and Arizona Diamondbacks are all competing to secure the final playoff spot in their respective leagues by the final day of the MLB season on September 27th. Each team has faced challenges this month, resulting in an intense finish. The Rangers and Astros are currently tied for first place in the American League West with 80-81 records.
The Rangers need a win against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday to claim the division, while the Astros gain the advantage if both teams finish with the same record. Winning the division grants home-field advantage in a wild-card series against the Chicago White Sox and an AL Division Series matchup against the Cleveland Guardians.
The Guardians, who clinched the AL Central title with an 85-76 record, beat the Kansas City Royals 11-5 earlier in the week. Meanwhile, the Phillies lost their fourth consecutive game to the Tampa Bay Rays 12-1, but they only need to defeat the Rays at home to secure the final NL wild-card berth and avoid a potential franchise record collapse.
If the Phillies don't win, the Arizona Diamondbacks, who lost 10-7 to the San Diego Padres on Saturday, can still clinch if they defeat the Padres on the final day and the Phillies lose to the Rays. The Diamondbacks hold the tiebreaker advantage, advancing if they beat the Padres and the Phillies lose. The Padres' victory secured the top wild-card spot in the National League, a best-of-three series against the Chicago Cubs, with home-field advantage for the winner.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
