Here we are, folks: the final day of the 2013 regular season. We've seen a lot of wild and crazy things this year, but MLB might have one trick left up their sleeve in the AL Wild Card race, where the Indians are assured of at least a one game playoff and the Rays and Rangers are still battling for the final spot. If the three teams finish in a three-way tie, the Indians will host the Rays on Monday to determine one of the Wild Cards, while the Rangers would host the loser of that game on Tuesday to determine the second Wild Card. If the Rays and Rangers end up being tied for the final spot, Texas would host Tampa Bay on Monday. Is chaos on the horizon? Well…we'll see.
PIC OF THE DAY
Bye, Andy. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)
Game of the Day: Brewers 4, Mets 2 (ten innings). A Yuni Betancourt sac fly in the eighth put Milwaukee ahead 2-1. In the bottom of the ninth, Donovan Hand allowed an RBI single to Eric Young Jr to tie the game at two. We moved into extras, and Scott Atchison was awful, walking Caleb Gindl and allowing singles to Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez to give the Brewers the lead. After a Scooter Gennett bunt, Lucroy scored on a single by Betancourt to make it 4-2. Alfredo Figaro set the Mets down in order, and that took care of that.
Pitching Lines of the Night: The Yankees beat the Astros 2-1 in Andy Pettitte's last career start, and Pettitte allowed one run on five hits in a complete game victory, walking two and punching out five. The Nationals beat the Diamondbacks 2-0, and Dan Haren gave up four hits in seven shutout innings, walking one and striking out five. Anibal Sanchez pitched fine in an abbreviated five inning start for Tigers, who lost 2-1 to Miami in ten innings, allowing two hits and striking out eight with no walk while not allowing a run. Adam Wainwright pitched the Cardinals past the Cubs 6-2, giving up two hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings, walking one and punching out five. Juan Nicasio had a nice start for the Rockies in their 1-0 victory over the Dodgers, allowing three hits in 5 1/3 shutout frames, walking one and striking out seven.
Hitting Lines of the Night: In Seattle's 7-5 win in Oakland, Brad Miller went 2/4 with a pair of homers and five RBI. Justin Upton had a nice night for the Braves in their 5-4 loss to the Phillies, going 4/5 with a double, a three-run homer, and a stolen base. In that Brewers win in Flushing, Carlos Gomez went 4/5 with a homer, two RBI, and a stolen base. The Pirates beat the Reds 8-3 thanks to Neil Walker going 2/5 with a pair of solo homers and Marlon Byrd going 3/4 with a homer, two runs, and two RBI.
Other Games: The Rangers beat the Angels 7-4, the Indians beat the Twins 5-1, and the Rays fell to the Blue Jays 7-2 to set up all of the potential chaos in the American League. The Padres smashed the Giants 9-3. The Orioles edged the Red Sox 6-5. The White Sox hit four homers in a 6-5 win over the Royals.
Today's Games: Matt Moore starts for the Rays in Toronto. Justin Verlander gets the nod for the Tigers in Miami. Julio Teheran and the Braves host the Phillies. Ubaldo Jimenez takes the hill for the Indians in Minnesota. Jeff Samardzija starts for the Cubs in St Louis. Yu Darvish and the Rangers host the Angels. Hyun-Jin Ryu and the Dodgers host the Rockies. Sonny Gray and Erasmo Ramirez will face off in Seattle.
National TV: Pirates-Reds (1 PM, TBS), Angels-Rangers (3 PM, MLB Network)
MLB.tv Free Game: EVERYTHING!
Pitching Matchup of the Day: Jason Vargas vs Yu Darvish (Angels vs Rangers, 3 PM)
Enjoy your final day of regular season baseball, everyone.
