The New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, and Arizona Diamondbacks are all in play for the final National League Wild Card. However, there is also the chance that once the final five MLB games for each team are played out that there is a three-way tie at the top of the standings and the teams finish with identical records.
It's a rare situation, but there is an MLB rule that clarifies what would happen. New York is currently in a series with the Cubs, Arizona is taking on Los Angeles, and the Reds are at home against the Pirates.
Unique scenario explained
So, there are a couple of potential things that could happen in this event. First, MLB looks at head-to-head records, which is the easiest step to decide the final spot.
If the three clubs do not have identical records against one another, MLB looks for a clear head-to-head winner. I.E., the Reds beat both the Diamondbacks and Mets 4-2 in their season series with those contenders. It's a bit complicated, but the Reds have a leg up because they won both season series against Arizona and New York.
If all three clubs finished with identical head-to-head records against one another, then MLB turns to a list of secondary tiebreaking options. That order runs through intradivision records, then intraleague records. If it is still tied, other criteria-based methods are used.
So in the event of a perfect three-way tie, it would be the Reds who advance to face the winner of the NL West, on the road, in a three-game set.
It will be a great race to end the final week of the MLB season, as each game that each three Wild Card contenders play will be under a microscope.
Check out more of TJ French's stories here: