MLB playoff schedule taking shape: Tigers likely start in Oakland

Story updated: Playoff scenarios, standings, tiebreakers, and schedules. With cool charts.

By Patrick OKennedy@Tigerdog_1 Sep 26, 2013, 4:38pm EDT

STORY UPDATED THROUGH THURSDAY'S GAMES

The Detroit Tigers clinched their third consecutive American League central division title on Wednesday night with a 1- 0 victory over the Minnesota Twins. On the same night, the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals were eliminated from playoff contention, while the Boston Red Sox put themselves in position to claim home field advantage as long as they keep playing in October.

AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION WINNERS:

The Red Sox, A's and Tigers have all clinched their respective divisions. Boston has a commanding two game lead over Oakland and three over Detroit, each team with three games remaining. The team with the best record will host the winner of the wild card playoff while the other teams will play each other. Both ALDS series begin on Friday, Oct. 4.

TIEBREAKERS- Oakland would prevail in any tie breaking scenario over the Red Sox or the Tigers, and Detroit would prevail over Boston in a two way tie. The Tigers would gain home field in a three way tie because of their intradivision record.

It's very likely that the Tigers will open on the road at Oakland on Oct. 4- 5. However, if Oakland manages to gain two games on the Red Sox this weekend, then the Tigers would open at Boston. Unless the Tigers sweep Miami and Boston is swept at Baltimore, in which case the Tigers would open at home.

AL STANDINGS

Team	Won- Lost	Pct	GB
Boston	96- 63	.604	---
Oakland	94- 65	.591	2
Detroit	93- 66	.585	3

AL TIEBREAKERS

Team 1	Team 2	Tiebreaker winner
Boston	Oakland	Oakland
Boston	Detroit	Detroit
Oakland	Detroit	Oakland
Oakland Boston Detroit	3 way tie	1. Detroit 2. Oakland 3. Boston

AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD

The Rays have a one game lead over the Indians and two games over the Rangers. Each team has four games to play, starting Thursday. Two of the three will play in the wild card playoff game on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

The Yankees, Royals, and Orioles are eliminated from playoff contention.

TIEBREAKERS- The bottom line is that the Rays would have home field over the Indians. The Indians would have home field over the Rangers, and the Rangers would have home field over the Rays,

If two teams tie for the two wild card slots, they will play with the tie breaking formula used just to determine home field advantage.

If two teams tie for one wild card slot, they will play an extra game to determine who will travel to play the other qualifying team in the wild card game.

If three teams tie for the two wild card spots, there will be a two game playoff, followed by the wild card playoff game.

Here is the format for breaking a three way tie for two wild card spots:

Game 1: Monday, September 30: Team B at team A- winner is in

Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 1: Game 1 loser at team C: winner is in, loser is out

The Indians would have first choice, and likely select the A designation because they would then have two shots at getting in, with the first game at home. The Rays would select designation B to give them two chances, even though both would be on the road. The Rangers would be in slot C. The overall record between the three teams during the season is the tiebreaker used here.

Just remember that the formula is never used to determine the winner of a division or to eliminate one team from the playoffs. Those matters are decided on the field. The tie breaking formula is used only to determine home field.

AL WILD CARD STANDINGS

Team	Won- Lost	Games	GB
Tampa Bay	90- 69	3 @ Tor	+1
Cleveland	89- 70	3 @ Min	---
Texas	88- 71	3 vs LAA	1

AL WILD CARD TIEBREAKERS

Team 1	Team 2	Tiebreaker winner
Tampa Bay	Cleveland	Tampa
Cleveland	Texas	Cleveland
Tampa Bay	Texas	Texas
Tampa Bay Cleveland Texas	3 way tie	A. Cleveland B. Tampa Bay C. Texas

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION WINNERS:

The Braves and Dodgers have clinched their divisions. The Cardinals hold a commanding three game lead over the Pirates with three to play. The Reds can not win the division, but have clinched a wild card spot.

In the race for best record in the National League, the Cards ~~have a half game lead over the~~ are tied with the Braves, and ~~2- 1/2~~ 3 games ahead of the Dodgers. Each team has three games left.

In case of a tie between St Louis and Atlanta for best record, the Braves would get home field. The Braves would also host the Dodgers if the two have the same record, but the Dodgers hold the tiebreaker over St Louis in the unlikely event that they pull even with the Cardinals. There is no game played to determine home field.

NATIONAL LEAGUE LEADERS

Team	Won- Lost	Games	GB
Braves	94- 65	3 @ Tor	---
Cardinals	94- 65	3 @ Min	---
Dodgers	91- 68	3 vs LAA	3

NL TIEBREAKERS

Team 1	Team 2	Tiebreaker winner
Braves	Cardinals	Braves
Braves	Dodgers	Braves
Cardinals	Dodgers	Dodgers
Braves Cardinals Dodgers	3 way tie	A.Braves B. Dodgers C. Cardinals

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL/ WILD CARD:

In the event of a tie between the Cards and Pirates for the division, a one game playoff would be held in Pittsburgh. St. Louis is 3 games up on Pittsburgh with 3 to play. Cincinnati is 4 games behind the Cards and out of the division race.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds will play in the wild card game barring a collapse by St Louis against the Cubs this weekend.. The Pirates are in Cincinnati this weekend for a three game series. The winner of that series will host the other in the wild card game.