American League Wild-Card: Seven Teams Tied For One Spot
Another scenario in which the Yankees are already in. That leaves everybody else fighting for the last berth.
Team A: Twins
Team B: Angels
Team C: Royals
Team D: Rangers
Team E: Mariners
Team F: Rays
Team G: Orioles
Scenario 1: Three-team/Four-team Split
First Round, Three-Team Pod
Game 1, Oct. 2: Team B (Angels) at Team A (Twins); loser is eliminated
Game 2, Oct. 2: Team C (Royals) at Game 1 winner (A or B); winner advances to next round
First Round, Four-Team Pod
Game 3, Oct. 2: Team E (Mariners) at Team D (Rangers); loser is eliminated
Game 4, Oct. 2: Team G (Orioles) at Team F (Rays); loser is eliminated
Game 5, Oct. 3: Game 4 winner (F or G) at Game 3 winner (D or E); winner advances to next round
Second Round:
Game 6, Oct. 4: Four-team Pod winner (D or E or F or G) at Three-team Pod winner (A or B or C)
To Reach The Wild-Card Game:
Team A has to win three games, all at home.
Team B has to win three games, the first on the road, the second at home and the third at home.
Team C has to win two games, the first on the road and the second at home.
Team D has to win three games, the first at home, the second at home and the third on the road.
Team E has to win three games, the first on the road, the second at home and the third on the road.
Team F has to win three games, the first at home, the second on the road and the third on the road.
Team G has to win three games, all on the road.
Scenario 2: Four-Team/Three-Team Split
First Round, Four-Team Pod:
Game 1, Oct. 2: Team B (Angels) at Team A (Twins); loser is eliminated
Game 2, Oct. 2: Team D (Rangers) at Team C (Royals); loser is eliminated
Game 3, Oct. 3: Game 2 winner (C or D) at Game 1 winner (A or B); winner advances to next found
First Round, Three-Team Pod:
Game 4, Oct. 2: Team F (Rays) at Team E (Mariners); loser is eliminated
Game 5, Oct. 3: Team G (Orioles) at Game 4 winner (E or F); winner advances to next round
Second Round:
Game 6, Oct. 4: Three-Team Pod winner (E or F or G) at Four-Team Pod winner (A or B or C or D); winner advances to wild-card game
To Reach The Wild-Card Game:
Team A has to win three games, all at home.
Team B has to win three games, the first on the road and the second and third at home.
Team C has to win three games, the first at home, the second on the road and the third at home.
Team D has to win three games, the first on the road, the second on the road and the third at home.
Team E has to win three games, the first at home, the second at home and the third on the road.
Team F has to win three games, the first on the road, the second at home and the third on the road.
Team G has to win two games, both on the road.
Scenario 3: The Bye Option
This seems like the least likely because MLB would surely prefer there are no byes at this point. Let's see both scenarios, one in which the team getting the bye (Team A) starts at home and one in which it starts on the road.
First Round:
Team A (Twins) gets a bye
Game 1, Oct. 2: Team C (Royals) at Team B (Angels); loser eliminated
Game 2, Oct. 2: Team E (Mariners) at Team D (Rangers); loser eliminated
Game 3, Oct. 2: Team G (Orioles) at Team F (Rays); loser eliminated
Second Round (Team A at home):
Game 4, Oct. 3: Game 1 winner (B or C) at Team A (Twins); loser eliminated
Game 5, Oct. 3: Game 3 winner (F or G) at Game 2 winner (D or E); loser eliminated
Third Round:
Game 6, Oct. 4: Game 5 winner (D or E or F or G) at Game 4 winner (A or B or C); winner gets second wild-card berth
To Reach The Wild-Card Game (Team A at home):
Team A has to win two games, both at home.
Team B has to win three games, the first at home, the second on the road and the third at home.
Team C has to win three games, the first on the road, the second on the road and the third at home.
Team D has to win three games, the first at home, the second at home and the third on the road.
Team E has to win three games, the first on the road, the second at home and the third on the road.
Team F has to win three games, the first at home, the second on the road and the third on the road.
Team G has to win three games, all on the road.
Second Round (Team A on road):
Game 4, Oct. 3: Team A (Twins) at Game 1 winner (B or C); loser eliminated
Game 5, Oct. 3: Game 3 winner (F or G) at Game 2 winner (D or E); loser eliminated
Third Round:
Game 6, Oct. 4: Game 5 winner (D or E or F or G) at Game 4 winner (A or B or C); winner gets second wild-card berth
To Reach The Wild-Card Game:
Team A has to win two games, the first on the road and the second at home.
Team B has to win three games, all at home.
Team C has to win three games, the first on the road and the second and third at home.
Team D has to win three games, the first two at home and the third on the road.
Team E has to win three games, the first on the road, the second at home and the third on the road.
Team F has to win three games, the first at home, the second on the road and the third on the road.
Team G has to win three games, all on the road.
