MLB on Sling TV: Wild Card Races Heat Up
With just over two weeks left in the 2015 Major League Baseball season, the playoff picture is largely settled, except where it’s not, and where it’s not, OH MAN is it not.
The intrigue begins in the AL East, where the Toronto Blue Jays hold a slim 3.5 game lead over the New York Yankees. A series sweep for the Yankees, whose recent surge includes taking two of three from the first-place Mets in last weekend’s interleague series, would put them back at the top of the division, and a sweep for the Jays would likely put the division out of reach for the Bombers.
So the Yankees’ three-game series in Toronto this week is huge for both teams; the Blue Jays took the first game Monday 4-2, and the second and third games will both be on Sling TV (via ESPN) at 7pm Tuesday and Wednesday. The good news for both teams: Whichever one comes out on top, the other is likely to hang onto a Wild Card playoff berth.
Who that Wild Card will be facing in the one-game playoff depends on the other big series playing out on Sling TV this week: the AL West’s first-place Texas Rangers defending the shrinking one-game lead over the Houston Astros that they stole in a four-game sweep just a week ago.
Everything I said about the Yankees/Blue Jays series above is true in this series as well, except that Houston is only three games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels (translation: The The Angels Angels) for the Wild Card, so not only is the AL West title at stake, a late-season Angels rally could knock either the Astros or Rangers out of the playoffs completely.
The Astros host the Rangers for a three-game series this weekend, and both the Friday game and the Sunday game will be on Sling TV, on ESPN2 and TBS, respectively.
The Pirates and Cubs are both hot on the heels of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central, trailing by four and six games, respectively. They may or may not be able to oust the Cards, but one of them is likely to make it to the postseason as a Wild Card, as they’re only two games apart. The Pirates had a stronger lead until last week, when the Cubs took three of a four-game series in Pittsburgh. The weekend ought to provide a little more clarity on the subject, as the Pirates visit Chicago for a three-game series, the last of which will be on ESPN at 8pm.
MLB on SLING TV SCHEDULE
All times eastern. Projected starters as of Monday. Some games subject to regional blackout.
Tuesday, September 22
Yankees at Blue Jays, 7pm, ESPN
Luis Severino vs. Marco Estrada
Wednesday, September 23
Yankees at Blue Jays, 7pm, ESPN
Ivan Nova vs. Marcus Stroman
Friday, September 25
Rangers at Astros, 8pm, ESPN2
Cole Hamels vs. Scott Kazmir
Sunday, September 27
Rangers at Astros, 2pm, TBS
Martin Perez vs. Dallas Keuchel
Pirates at Cubs, 8pm, ESPN
A.J. Burnett vs. TBA