For much of the seasons last week the Giants had control of their playoff possibilities. Now they do not after losing 2 straight to the Padres.
If the Giants wish to reach the competition they require assistance on the final day Sunday, when all 15 video games start simply after noon PDT so none acquires a benefit by understanding how groups in other time zones fared.
2 Sunday scenarios are easy to understand.
The Brewers will counter with two-time previous Athletic Brett Anderson coming off 2 six-inning wins against the Reds and makers. He enabled three runs over the 12 innings.
Theyre out if the Giants lose to the Padres. Period.
The Phillies are not dead yet either. If they beat the Rays on Sunday while the Giants and Brewers both lose, Gabe Kaplers previous group is in.
That would force the Cardinals to travel to Detroit for an arranged makeup doubleheader Monday since the Giants would live. Two Cardinals losses against the Tigers would leave them 29-31 and out of the playoffs while the.500 Giants and Brewers get in.
The Cardinals have a strong inspiration to win, and its not to help the Giants. They would clinch a playoff area and not have to go to Detroit.
If the Giants beat the Padres and the Brewers lose in St. Louis, the Giants are in and will face the Dodgers in the best-of-three wild-card round beginning Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Again, the whole Cardinals-in-Detroit situation uses only if the Giants and Brewers both win Sunday.
Heres where individuals must stop checking out if crazy scenarios typically make them seasick.
If the Giants and Brewers both win Sunday to end up 30-30, the 29-29 Cardinals will, in the words of Elmer Fudd, be vewy, vewy dissatisfied.
Henry Schulman covers the Giants for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @hankschulman
The Padres need to be an intriguing case Sunday in their final tuneup for the playoffs. They are locked into the fourth seed and have nothing to acquire, so big hitters like Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., who were eliminated midway through Saturdays game, might get one at-bat and leave if they play at all.
Given that the Cardinals would have to win once to knock out the Giants and sign up with the Brewers in the playoffs, they would not need to play the nightcap.
The Giants pitching firewall program Sunday is left-hander Drew Smyly, who has actually been rock-solid in 3 games back from his sprained finger. In his return game he held the Padres to one run over four innings.
In St. Louis, the Giants fate will rest in the left arm of Austin Gomber, a second-year swingman who has actually made 3 starts for the Cardinals in September, amounting to 11 2/3 innings, without enabling the Cubs, Tigers and Royals to score.
San Diego also will have a bullpen game, with the object of keeping arms sharp with 2 day of rests before Game 1. First off will be left-hander Adrian Morejon.
