Playoffs, You're Talking Playoffs?!

It's that time of year.  Just six games left and what looked to be a lock has now turned into a free for all where some crazy stuff can and probably will happen.  Who would have thought that by Week Nine that the D-Backs, Mariners and Brewers would all be in contention for a first round playoff bye?  I'm sure no one thought the Marlins would still be alive, well they are.  The Marlins just need to win their next six and have the Brewers and Angels lose their next six.  Then there's the crafty Tigers, they still can win the Pennant, it's a long shot but a Week Nine Dodgers sweep of the Giants and a Week Ten Tigers sweep of the Dodgers would get it done if the Mariners sweep the Giants on the last day of the season provided the Tigers go 6-0 down the stretch.  I know, it's all confusing and wacky and maybe just too much to ingest but only the Pirates are mathematically eliminated and that leaves nine teams fighting for six spots and all of the seeding.

1. Giants (14-2) Remaining schedule; Dodgers, Angels, Mariners.  The Giants Week Nine series against the Dodgers has been what everyone is waiting for.  If the Giants sweep they'd need just two more wins for the pennant.  A split wouldn't be bad either since they hold tie breakers over both the Dodgers and Tigers by at least 20 runs allowed.  Without a win the rest of the way the Giants could fall as far as the five seed.

2. Dodgers (13-3) Remaining schedule; Giants, Tigers, Orioles.  If the Dodgers sweep the Giants they'd need to win three of their final four to win the Pennant, regardless of the Giants and Tigers record.  If they split their final three games they'll will do no worse than the two seed.  If they don't win a game the rest of the way they could fall as far as the six seed.

3. Tigers (11-5) Remaining schedule; Pirates, Dodgers, Angels.  With the way the Tigers have been playing lately they may only need to worry about the Dodgers.  If they do what needs to be done Week Nine against the Pirates destiny will be in their hands.  If they win their next four games the Tigers will be in the drivers seat with a shot at a first round bye and maybe even the Pennant depending on what the Giants do.  With that in mind they still haven't officially locked up a postseason spot though a sweep of the Pirates and a loss by the O's and Halos would get it done.

4. D-Backs (9-7) Remaining schedule; Angles, Mariners, Brewers.  The D-Backs are a team that has quietly flown under the radar in 2013.  If they can win their final six games they may go as far as the two seed and a first round bye.  Four wins in their next six would would guarantee them a spot in the postseason as long as one of those wins was against their Week Nine opponent, the Angels.

5. Mariners (9-7) Remaining schedule; Brewers, D-Backs, Giants.  The Mariners series against the Brewers will have the greatest effect on playoff berths of any matchup Week Nine.  With a sweep over the Brew Crew they would need just one win over their last four to earn a spot in the postseason.  Even a split Week Nine and Ten against the Brewers and D-Backs would give them much needed tie breakers over the the two.  Though it could all come down to the final day of the season when they play the Giants.  If the Mariners get swept in two of their final three series they could find themselves on the outside looking in, that is if the Angels can play .500 ball down or the Orioles can win out down the stretch.

6. Brewers (8-8) Remaining schedule; Mariners, Marlins, D-Backs.  Four of the Brewers final six games will be against the two teams directly ahead of them in the standings.  With a pair of sweeps over the Mariners and D-Backs they would reclaim the tie breakers and most likely end up as the four seed.  On the other hand splits would probably only help by distancing themselves from the Angels and leave them as the six seed.  If the get swept by the Mariners and D-Backs they better hope the Angels and Orioles play under .500 the rest of the way or their season ends Week 11.

7. Angels (7-9) Remaining schedule; D-Backs, Giants, Tigers.  The Angels have the toughest schedule down the stretch but after a short staffed win over the Dodgers they at least hold the key to their own destiny.  While three wins in their last six may get them in, it may take a little more than that to get it done.  Of all the teams they are chasing the only hold a tie breaker over the Dodgers.  Come Week Nine they will be hoping the teams in front of them get swept and that could open a hole for the Halos to steal the six seed.

8. Orioles (5-11) Remaining schedule; Marlins, Pirates, Dodgers.  The Orioles don't need to win their last six games to get into the postseason but it they don't they will need a multiple losses from the Mariners or D-Backs or Brewers.  With only a tie breaker over the Mariners the O's easiest road to the postseason might be a Mariners collapse.  The O's could still get in if the Brewers go south but the way they have been playing lately it doesn't look likely.

9. Marlins (2-14) Remaining schedule; Orioles, Brewers, Pirates.  One loss by the Marlins and one win by the Brewers or Angels the rest of the way would end any chance the Marlins have for the postseason.  If they could somehow sweep the O's, their Week Ten meeting against the Brewers could be a series with some serious playoff implications.