First game after the announcement and it looks the same. Phillies with a solid win to start the Mets series. Only two games remain.
Twins leading Tigers 5-3 in the top of the 6th.
Cubs beat the Reds, 5-4.
Indians down the White Sox, 10-1.
Giants and Padres just getting underway.
So it doesn't look good on the draft pick watch. Need the Tigers to rally and the Giants to win as well.
I believe the Giants could win their final two games, they are playing better and at home this weekend against a Padre team that has packed it in. BUT, I simply cannot see the Tigers winning 2 in a row, my gosh I think they have won about 2 games in the last 3 weeks.
And with the announcement that DeGroom is not pitching this weekend I think it will be more difficult for the Mets to beat the Phils twice so right now the Phils might have to hope they can hold onto 3rd spot, Reds may not win another game either and who knows about the White Sox?
September 30 update:
Tigers 63-97 -- (6-24)
Giants 63-97 -- (11-19)
Phillies 65-95 2.0 (16-14)
White Sox 66-94 3.0 (14-16)
Reds 67-93 4.0 (12-18)
White Sox and Reds eliminated from 1-1 contention.
With all of two games to go, the Phillies are neither mathematically eliminated from contention for the #1 pick (they get it by virtue of the tiebreaker if they go 0-2 in their last two while the Tigers and Giants both go 2-0) nor have they clinched no worse than the #4 pick (they fall to #5 if they go 2-0 in their last two while the White Sox and Reds both go 0-2, losing out to the Reds by virtue of the tiebreaker). Yes, believe it or not, we can still end up anywhere from #1 to #5.
And MLB will have no 100 game loser in 2017 as the Giants clinched avoiding that ignominy.
schooldoc...seems best chance for a loss is tonight, Mets are going with Lugo, who is pitching well and Phils counter with Alvarez, who has had buzzard's luck in both of his starts [had leads in both yet bullpen blew both games.]
Tomorrow the Mets are letting their starter throw 25 pitches p[probably 1 inning or so] and bringing out the bullpen and generally when that happens at least one of them is bad. Phils counter with Pivetta, so who knows with him but his last few starts have been solid.
Still, I could see Phils winning out, they are playing well, seem motivated to send Peter Mac out in style, and Mets are having internal issues after a few players ripped Collins in the press anonymously, much to the disdain of Wright and DeGroom.
Close of play, September 30:
Giants 63-98 .391 ----
Tigers 64-97 .398 1.0 GB
Phillies 65-96 .404 2.0 GB
White Sox 67-94 .416 4.0 GB
Reds 67-94 .416 4.0 GB
Phillies clinch pick 1.3 with outside chance to tie the Tigers and take the 1.2 pick. The Tigers can still catch the Giants and win the tie breaker for 1.1 pick.