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September 18, 2026

10:35 PM PDT

MAXIMUM POSSIBLE TIES ?

WOULD YOU BELIEVE 7 TEAMS - IN AL ?

webmaster@pennantsolutions.com

We are about to begin the Penultimate Weekend of the Regular MLB Season,

and (Count 'em) Seven Teams Still Could Tie for the Third AL Wild Card !!!

WAIT A MINUTE, THIS JUST IN ! MAKE THAT NINE (9) TEAMS !!!

That's right, 9 Teams could tie if we include the two tight Division Races still going on.

2026 :Links not updated yet

That's because these 9 Teams have records ranging from 78-75 (CWS, CLE)

For More Details,

down to 71-82 (SEA, MIN) - that's a separation of only 7 Games with 9 Left to Play.

Click on the Links Below

Not only that, but because they are bunched so tightly, this 9-Way Tie could occur at

NL DIVISION STDGS

78,79, or 80 Wins. A 9-Way Tie, with ALL 9 Teams (slightly) BELOW .500.

NL WILD CARD STDGS

But Hold On, You Say - You Can't Be Serious ! (to quote J. McEnroe)

AL DIVISION STDGS

Yes, We Are - And We're Crunching the Numbers to Prove It.

AL WILD CARD STDGS

Here's What We Know So Far:

1. 9 Teams Can Reach 78, 79, or 80 Wins

2. With Each Team having 3 series left, there are Potentially 27 series involved.

3. HOWEVER, Five of the Series are H to H WITHIN the Group of 9;

that reduces 27 to 22 Series, with 17 of them involving only 1 of the 9 teams.

4. And the 5 H to H Series include 14 games, because HOU @ SEA is a 2g series.

What do 1. - 4. Mean ? They mean that SOME of the Ties May Not Be Mathematically Possible !

As Soon as We Have Determined Which of the Ties are Precluded by These 14 Games, we will

Post Those Limitations.

Don't Fret, NL Fans - You Have a Similar Situation Involving SIX TEAMS ! And that case has

ALL 3 WILD CARD SLOTS in PLAY !!! We will Post on That Also, After We Get Some Clarity

on the Effects of the 14 H to H AL Games (two of which take place on Friday).

End FRI 4:09 pm PDT Post

UPDATE at 7:45 pm PDT

Here are the REQUIRED OUTCOMES for FRIDAY if the 9-TEAM is to remain Possible:

1. TIE at 78 WINS requires CWS & CLE to LOSE

2. TIE at 80 WINS requires SEA & MIN to WIN

3. And TIE at 79 WINS (as the "Goldilocks" Scenario,

Not too Many W & Not too Few, but "just right"), has NO Required Outcomes on Fri.

Further Updates After Tonight's Key Games Are Concluded

End FRI 7:45 pm PDT Post

UPDATE #2: 10:00 pm PDT -

Do You Know Where Your Ties Are ?

REQUIRED OUTCOMES RESULTS for FRIDAY if the 9-TEAM TIE is to remain Possible:

1. CWS Lost, but CLE Won - so TIES at 78 WINS Reduced from 9 to 8 Teams

2. SEA & MIN Won - so 9 Teams Tied at 80 WINS Still Possible

3. TIE at 79 WINS - 9 Teams Still Possible (NO Friday Required Outcomes)

Requirements will get tighter as we go through the weekend - TOR @ TEX key, because they

have 2 opponents in the 9-Team Group: Each other, plus one more team each

End FRI 10:05 pm PDT Post

UPDATE #3: As Promised, 6-Team Ties in NL !

Here are the REQUIRED FRI. OUTCOMES if 6-Teams for 3 Wild Cards is to remain Possible:

1. 6-TEAM TIE at 85 WINS requires CUBS & PHI to LOSE, PIT & MIA to WIN

2. 4 or 5-TEAM TIE also at 85 WINS requires CUBS & PHI to LOSE, PIT OR MIA to WIN

3. 4-TEAM TIES at 86-88 WINS Have NO FRI. requirements

4. 4-TEAM TIE at 89 WINS requires ARI to WIN

Required Outcomes RESULTS for FRIDAY if the NL Scenarios are to remain Possible:

1. 3 of 4 required Results came true, but MIA Loss to S D Reduces 6 Teams to 5 at 85 Wins

2. As just noted, CUBS & PHI Losses, PIT Win Leaves 5-Team Tie at 85 Wins Still Possible

3. NO FRI. requirements

4. ARI Loss to NYY means 4-Team Tie at 89 Wins No Longer Possible

C U SATURDAY, FOLKS, FOR MORE ABOUT MULTI-TEAM TIES

End FRI 10:35 pm PDT Post

WE ARE BACK and OFF TO THE (2026 PENNANT) RACES !!!

(NEW content for 2026 only began on SUN. 9-06 with GIANTS "EARLY" ELIM,

so NONE of the links in the right-hand column have been updated for 2026.

My apologies, but I hope to correct that soon).

Question from 2017:

Why did NL Office take 2 tries to Decide LA had Clinched Playoffs 9-12-2017?

(according to Bill Shaikin of the L A Times)? We may never know.

Previous Headlines

Posted Fri. SEPT. 12, 2026, 3:56 PM PDT

ONE WIN by EITHER ARI or SD Now Enough for KO !

UPDATE - SD W, NATS OUT @ 3:48 PM PDT (Details Below)

Posted Fri. SEPT. 11, 2026, 3:26 AM PDT

SAT. UPDATE for Western Insomniacs, Eastern Early Risers

Posted Sun. SEPT. 6, 2026, 7:13 pm PDT

BULLETIN:

GIANTS w/ One Foot in Grave - Now It's Two !!

or as Yogi might say, "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over - But NOW IT IS OVER !!

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