National League Playoff Possibilities

Here's what we know at 12:50PM, Central Time:

1) The PHILLIES are the #1 seed in the NL, and will host either Cincinnati (if Atlanta wins the Wild Card), or San Francisco/San Diego if they win the Wild Card

2) The Cincinnati Reds are the #3 seed in the NL, and will play the PHILLIES or the NL West Champion if both the Giants and Padres qualify for the postseason.

Here's where it gets tricky:

First, the "automatic clinch" scenarios:

1) Braves clinch the Wild Card with two wins
2) Braves clinch the Wild Card with one win and one Padres loss
3) Padres and Giants clinch playoff spots with two Padres wins and two Braves losses (the Padres would win the West on a tie-breaker)

Next, the simple playoff scenario:

1) Braves and Padres would play a one-game playoff for the Wild Card if the Braves lose two games and the Padres win one game

Finally, the complex playoff scenario:

The Braves win one game, while the Padres win both games.  That would leave the Braves at 91-71, the Giants at 91-71, and the Padres at 91-71.

In a situation such as this, there is no simple tie-breaker.  Instead, two additional games are needed to determine playoff seeding and divisional champion:

1) The Padres and Giants would play a one-game playoff on Monday to determine the NL West Champion
2) The loser of that game would play the Braves on Tuesday to determine the Wild Card

This is the situation that would greatly benefit the Phils.  Why?  Because the Giants and Padres would have to burn through their #1 starters to win the NL West, leaving them unavailable for the NLDS opener.  Additionally, if the NL West loser then wins the Wild Card, they'll have burned through their top two starters to win the Wild Card, making them unavailable for the first two games against the Phils.

Interesting times, eh?