The three-team race for the final two playoff tournament spots in Major League Baseball will be decided on the very last day of the season schedule.
The victories of the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks, coupled with the defeat of the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, mean that the doubleheader between the Mets and the Braves on Monday will be decisive.
The Mets and Braves need a win to advance. In the event of a sweep, the Diamondbacks will be ahead of the losing team.
The Diamondbacks are 89-73, while the Mets and Braves are 88-72. The two tied teams have the advantage in the tiebreaker against the Arizona club.
The Braves could punch their ticket with a win in Atlanta, but Charlie Morton gave up a three-run homer to Michael Massey in the first inning and the Kansas City Royals won 4-2.
PHOTO JORDAN GODFREE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Charlie Morton
Morton (8-10) gave up a double to Tommy Pham and a single to Bobby Witt Jr. before Massey’s long ball. The 40-year-old pitcher gave up four runs, five hits and two walks in four and a third innings in what could be his last game in major league baseball.
Alec Marsh (9-9) allowed just one earned run in five innings for the win, and Kris Bubic recorded his first save afterward.
In Milwaukee, David Peterson shined on the mound for seven innings and the Mets blanked the Brewers 5-0.
Peterson (10-3) gave up just one hit and three free passes, striking out eight opponents.
Francisco Lindor hit a home run and drove in two runs. Francisco Alvarez was also responsible for two points in the victory. Lindor opened the scoring in the first when a single by Brandon Nimmo pushed him to the plate.
PHOTO AARON GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Francisco Lindor
While the Brewers were already assured of extending their season, Colin Rea (12-6) had a difficult outing on the mound allowing five runs, 10 hits and three walks in five and two-thirds innings.
The Mets would have secured their place in the playoffs with this victory if the Diamondbacks had lost, but the latter easily defeated the San Diego Padres 11-2 in Phoenix.
A two-run homer from Ketel Marte capped a six-run fourth inning.
Brandon Pfaadt (11-10) allowed two runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts in the win.
In the defeat, Martin Perez (5-6) gave up six runs, eight safe hits and two free passes in three and two-thirds innings.