Two games between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta were rained out this week, and they'll be played as a doubleheader on Monday.
The Mets and Braves both have a record of 88-72. The Arizona Diamondbacks finished the regular season at 89-73. The Mets and Braves both hold the tie breaker against the Diamondbacks. The Braves will hold the tiebreaker against the Mets, if the doubleheader is split.
If the doubleheader is split, the Diamondbacks are out, the Braves get Wild Card #2, and the Mets get Wild Card #3. If one team sweeps the doubleheader, that team gets Wild Card #2, the Diamondbacks get Wildcard #3, and the team which lost both games is out.
Wild Card #2 plays at San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Wild Card #3 plays at Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.
So...suppose that you're the Manager of the Mets or the Braves. Do you:
a) Use your best available pitcher to try to win game 1, or
b) Save your best available pitcher for game 2, when it's do or die?
Now, suppose that you win game 1. Do you:
c) Try hard to win game 2, to knock a division rival out of the post season, or
d) Having clinched a postseason berth, rest all of your regulars and tank game 2?
The Braves either get Wild Card #2, or they're out. The Mets can end up with Wild Card #2, Wild Card #3, or they could be out. If you're the Mets, and you win game 1, how much of a difference would it be to you to have to travel to Milwaukee, (if you lose game 2), as opposed to having to travel to San Diego, (if you also win game 2?).
Playing a playoff game on the road is tough enough, but playing a playoff game on the road the day after playing a doubleheader in a different city is much tougher. You wouldn't want to overuse your bullpen, with no off day.
The Mets and Braves both have a record of 88-72. The Arizona Diamondbacks finished the regular season at 89-73. The Mets and Braves both hold the tie breaker against the Diamondbacks. The Braves will hold the tiebreaker against the Mets, if the doubleheader is split.
If the doubleheader is split, the Diamondbacks are out, the Braves get Wild Card #2, and the Mets get Wild Card #3. If one team sweeps the doubleheader, that team gets Wild Card #2, the Diamondbacks get Wildcard #3, and the team which lost both games is out.
Wild Card #2 plays at San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Wild Card #3 plays at Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.
So...suppose that you're the Manager of the Mets or the Braves. Do you:
a) Use your best available pitcher to try to win game 1, or
b) Save your best available pitcher for game 2, when it's do or die?
Now, suppose that you win game 1. Do you:
c) Try hard to win game 2, to knock a division rival out of the post season, or
d) Having clinched a postseason berth, rest all of your regulars and tank game 2?
The Braves either get Wild Card #2, or they're out. The Mets can end up with Wild Card #2, Wild Card #3, or they could be out. If you're the Mets, and you win game 1, how much of a difference would it be to you to have to travel to Milwaukee, (if you lose game 2), as opposed to having to travel to San Diego, (if you also win game 2?).
Playing a playoff game on the road is tough enough, but playing a playoff game on the road the day after playing a doubleheader in a different city is much tougher. You wouldn't want to overuse your bullpen, with no off day.
