Today should be awesome. After 161 games, there are still many things to be decided as we head into game 162. For the first time, all games start at 3:00 ET in an effort to take away any advantage of playing later than your opponents. A lot of the possibilities are rather confusing, so we wanted to help you (and ourselves) out. So, here's a brief viewing guide.
National League
Cubs: Need a win vs Brewers AND a Pirates loss vs Reds to host the one-game Wildcard Game on Wednesday.
Pirates: Need a win vs Reds OR a Cubs loss vs Reds to host the one-game Wildcard Game on Wednesday.
Shelby Miller: Needs a win to break his 24 start winless streak. Miller, who was an NL All-Star, hasn’t won a game since May 17. He is 0-15 with an ERA just under 4.00 since that game. The record is 27 and was set in 1916.
American League
Yankees: Need a win vs Orioles to clinch top Wild Card spot and host the game on Tuesday.
Rangers: Need a win vs Angels to win AL West and avoid Wild Card game. Their opponent in the ALDS depends on the outcomes of the Blue Jays and Royals games today.
Astros: A win vs Diamondbacks AND a Yankees loss vs Orioles AND a Rangers win vs Angels would result in the Astros hosting the Yankees in the Wildcard game on Tuesday.
Astros: A win vs Diamondbacks AND a Yankees loss vs Orioles AND a Rangers loss vs Angels would result in a AL West tiebreaker game between Rangers and Astros on Monday. The winner would move to ALDS. The loser would host the Yankees in the Wildcard game on Tuesday.
Angels: A win vs Rangers AND an Astros loss vs Diamondbacks would result in a tiebreaker game on Monday (LAA @ HOU). The winner would play at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.
Blue Jays: A win vs Rays AND a Royals loss vs Twins results in home field advantage thorugh the World Series. Mark Buehrle also makes his last appearance in Major League Baseball today, as he's set to pitch two innings and retire afterwards.
Royals: A win vs Twins OR a Blue Jays loss vs Rays means home field advantage through the World Series.
Let the games begin!