Quite a bit nonetheless must be settled in MLB on the ultimate Sunday of the 2021 common season. Three postseason races are happening to the wire: two, for the wild playing cards within the American League; the opposite, for the NL West championship.

And if all the things breaks proper, we’ll have chaos past Sport 162. 4 AL groups have a shot at these wild-card berths as they enter play Sunday.

Sporting Information takes you thru the Sunday situations because the baseball drama cranks all the best way up:

AL wild card standings

The place do they stand?

The Pink Sox and Yankees are tied for the highest spot; the Blue Jays and Mariners are a sport behind.

What’s at stake?

The final two open playoff spots within the majors. Boston and New York are in management at 91-70. Toronto and Seattle are chasing at 90-71. Two of those groups will meet within the wild-card sport for the precise to face the Rays within the ALDS, however a lot can occur within the days main as much as it.

MORE: Up to date playoff bracket, magic numbers as of Oct. 2

If all 4 groups end tied after Sunday — the Yankees and Pink Sox would need to lose, and the Blue Jays and Mariners would need to win, for that to occur — MLB will maintain a first-of-its-kind set of tiebreakers. This is how the matchups might be decided, from MLB.com:

The golf equipment would select/obtain A, B, C and D designations. On Monday, Oct. 4, Membership A would host Membership B and Membership C would host Membership D. The winners of these two video games can be the Wild Card groups and would face one another within the ballpark of whoever had the superior head-to-head file.

The workforce with the perfect total profitable share towards the opposite three groups will get first selection of which membership it desires to be (A, B, C or D). On this case, that is the Pink Sox. The Blue Jays and Yankees would decide subsequent. The Mariners haven’t got a selection wherein workforce they’d be because the fourth-place membership on this group. Meaning they’re going to seemingly need to journey east proper after enjoying in Seattle on Sunday.

If simply three groups are tied for the 2 spots, then Membership A can be at house vs. Membership B on Monday. The winner would turn into the primary wild card. The loser would play at Membership C on Tuesday. The winner of that sport can be the second wild card, and the wild-card sport can be moved again. Head-to-head information would decide who will get the primary decide.

MORE: Playoff situations getting into the weekend  

If three groups are tied for the second spot, Membership A would host Membership B on Monday. The winner of that sport would host Membership C on Tuesday. The winner of the second sport would transfer on to the wild-card sport, which once more can be moved again.

If two groups are tied for the second spot, then there can be a one-game tiebreaker on Monday. The workforce with the higher head-to-head file would host it. The winner would advance to the wild-card sport.

If two groups clinch wild-card berths however are tied (that may solely be the Pink Sox and Yankees with 92 wins every), then the wild-card sport can be in Boston as a result of the Pink Sox received the season sequence 10-9.

Received all that?

Who do they play?

Yankees vs. Rays, 3:05 p.m. ET; Pink Sox at Nationals, 3:05 p.m. ET; Blue Jays vs. Orioles, 3:07 p.m. ET.

How will they play it?

It is all arms on deck for the ultimate Sunday, however the Pink Sox could also be in the perfect spot pitching-wise with Chris Sale beginning. The onetime ace has been stable in his return from Tommy John surgical procedure. The Nats will counter with rookie Joan Adon, who might be making his MLB debut. 

MORE: Why the Jays can be the scariest workforce to face in playoffs

The Yankees have Jameson Taillon lined as much as face Tampa Bay’s Michael Wacha, though Taillon left his final begin early with an ankle damage.

Toronto can have ace Hyun-Jin Ryu on the hill towards Baltimore’s Bruce Zimmermann. Ryu has a 15.58 ERA over his final three begins.

Left-hander Tyler Anderson will go to the mound first for the Mariners. He’ll be opposed by LA rookie Reid Detmers. 

NL West championship

The place do they stand?

The Giants lead the Dodgers by one sport.

What’s at stake?

Avoiding the wild-card sport, largely. The rivals go into the ultimate day with 106 and 105 wins, respectively; they’ve clinched essentially the most wins by a 1-2 combo in baseball historical past. They’ve additionally clinched playoff berths. However they do not wish to play a one-game season on Wednesday towards the Cardinals, although the sport might be at house.

MORE: Injured Kershaw not optimistic about October return

If the groups are tied after Sunday (the Giants must lose and the Dodgers must win for that to occur), then they’re going to play a one-game tiebreaker Monday in San Francisco for the division title. The loser will face the Cardinals within the wild-card sport.

Who do they play?

Giants vs. Padres, 3:05 p.m. ET; Dodgers vs. Brewers, 3:10 p.m. ET.

How will they play it?

The Giants will ship right-hander Logan Webb to the mound towards San Diego rookie right-hander Reiss Knehr. Webb is wrapping up a breakthrough season (2.93 ERA, 150 strikeouts in 141 1/3 innings earlier than Sunday). Giants supervisor Gabe Kapler will not hesitate to go to his bullpen if Webb struggles, nonetheless.

The Dodgers will give the ball to right-hander Walker Buehler, who was LA’s ace till the Dodgers acquired Max Scherzer on the commerce deadline. As if Buehler wanted any extra motivation, he may win the NL ERA title Sunday, leaping over Scherzer and Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes. Buehler is available in with a 2.49 ERA, whereas Scherzer is at 2.46 and Burnes is at 2.43 after his two-inning stint Saturday evening. The Brewers will begin Brett Anderson in what is anticipated to be a bullpen sport for Milwaukee.