After six months and 160 games, the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves must face off today for a season-ending doubleheader to decide their playoff fates -- and those of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The regular season ended yesterday for the other 28 MLB clubs, but the Mets and Braves still have two games remaining after Hurricane Helene forced the cancellation of the final two games of their series in Atlanta last week.
The Mets and Braves can punch their ticket to the postseason by winning one of the two games today. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks are idle today and must root for a sweep by either team to get into the playoffs.
Game 1 of today's doubleheader in Atlanta starts at 1:10 p.m. ET (10:10 a.m. PT). Tylor Megill will start on the mound for the Mets opposite Spencer Schwellenbach of the Braves.
Game 2 is scheduled to start roughly 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Luis Severino and Chris Sale are the tentative starters for game 2, but the matchup could change depending on the outcome of game 1.
Let's play two! Today's season-ending doubleheader in Atlanta will decide the final two postseason spots in the National League.
David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesPlayoff scenarios for Mets, Braves and Diamondbacks
Each of the three divisions in the National League are decided, with the Phillies winning the NL East, the Brewers winning the NL Central, and the Dodgers winning the NL West. The Padres locked up the first Wild Card spot, but the other two Wild Card spots -- the fifth and sixth NL playoff seeds -- remain open.
The Mets and Braves are both 88-72 with two games to play, and the Diamondbacks have completed the 162-game regular season at 89-73. That leaves three teams fighting for the final two playoff spots. Here are the scenarios entering today's season-ending doubleheader:
If the Mets and Braves split the doubleheader, the Braves get the fifth seed, the Mets get the sixth seed and the Dbacks are eliminated. If the Braves win both games, they will earn the fifth seed, the Dbacks get the sixth seed, and the Mets are eliminated. If the Mets win both games, they will earn the fifth seed, the Dbacks get the sixth seed, and the Braves are eliminated.Looking ahead to tomorrow, the fifth seed will head to San Diego to face the Padres in game 1 of the best-of-three Wild Card series, and the sixth seed goes to Milwaukee to begin the other NL Wild Card series against the Brewers.
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Today's playoff-deciding doubleheader will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. The games will also be broadcast locally on SportsNet NY (SNY) in the New York area and Bally Sports South in the Atlanta market. The good news for baseball fans is each of the five major live TV streaming services offers ESPN2.
Mets fans who live in the local New York market can to listen to their local announcers call the game on SNY with either DirecTV Stream or Hulu Plus Live TV. In-market Braves fans can do the same on Bally Sports South with either DirecTV Stream or Fubo.
Additionally, Spanish-speaking baseball fans can watch the Spanish-language broadcast on ESPN Plus.
All of the live TV streaming services above allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.