Mets vs. Braves score: New York, Atlanta clinch final spots in MLB playoffs with D-backs left out

After 6, it's still 3-0 Braves. It's also raining.

Braves go deep again

It's 3-0 now after Ramón Laureano homered to center field. 

Laureano was acquired by the Braves as a free agent in late May, only four days after he was released by the Guardians, as an injury replacement when Ronald Acuña Jr. went down with a torn ACL. Prior to Monday, he hit .293/.323/.495 (124 OPS+) in 65 games for the Braves. This marks his 10th home run since the acquisition. His career high for a season is 24, but he hadn't hit more than 14 homers in a season since 2019. 

Of note now: With a 3-0 Braves lead heading to the seventh inning, the Mets might have to think about holding back their best relievers for what could end up being a must-win second game. Of course, a three-run deficit isn't totally out of reach, so it's a tough call. 

Tylor Megill has averaged barely over 5 innings a start this season. He's at 84 pitches with two outs in the fifth. The Mets are down 2-0. Do you pull him and try to let your bullpen hold on and your offense come back? Or do you keep Megill out there for as long as he can, knowing he's not going to be on the Wild Card Series roster and try to save your relievers for Game 2?

Schwellenbach works out of it

After two singles, the Mets went strikeout, groundout, groundout. It's 2-0 Braves, mid-5th.

Mets in business ...

Pete Alonso and JD Martinez have singled to start the fourth.

Reminder on Game 2

Whichever team wins the first game will clinch a playoff spot and have zero incentive to win the second game. That means we won't see Luis Severino vs. Chris Sale. The winning team will replace the announced starter. 

Ozzie Albies homers to give Braves early lead

Michael Harris II singled to lead off the bottom of the third inning against Mets starter Tylor Megill and Ozzie Albies followed with a two-run homer to left field, making it 2-0 Braves in the first game of the doubleheader in Atlanta Monday. 

Albies only recently returned to the lineup after a lengthy absence due to a fractured left wrist. Prior to Monday, he was 4 for 31 with one homer since his return, giving him a .129 average and .226 slugging. It had to feel nice to get that big knock Monday and perhaps he's starting to settle back in. 

As a reminder, whichever team wins Game 1 of this doubleheader clinches a playoff berth before Game 2 even starts. 

Schwellenbach vs. Mets

The rookie Spencer Schwellenbach has now seen the Mets for 17 innings this season. He's allowed one run on six hits with 18 strikeouts and one walk. 

And Tyrone Taylor is stranded at third after three straight groundouts.

And the first hit for the Mets: a Tyrone Taylor infield single down the first baseline. Taylor then immediately stole second base.

No score through two. Braves had some traffic but Tylor Megill struck out Gio Urshela and Orlando Arcia to end the threat.

Braves' Ramon Laureano gets the first hit of the game with a slow grounder to third base.

Everyone's in a hurry

The Mets went three up, three down in the top of the first and the Braves had just one baserunner, a walk, around two strikeouts in the bottom of the inning.

Let's get going

It's just about time for the first pitch of Game 1. As way of reminder: if the Mets and Braves sweep, both teams make the playoffs. If the Mets sweep, the Mets and the Diamondbacks make the playoffs. If the Braves sweep, the Braves and the Diamondbacks make the playoffs. Got it? Good.

Braves fall to Royals, 4-2

The Braves' loss to KC in tandem with the wins by the Mets and Diamondbacks means that the final two NL playoff spots hinge on Monday's makeup doubleheader between the Mets and Braves in Atlanta. As noted below, the Braves and Mets will claim the final two wild-card berths if they split that doubleheader. If it's a sweep doubleheader, the D-backs and the sweeping team will head to the postseason. 

Diamondbacks defeat Padres 11-2

This, plus the Mets winning, now only requires the Royals to hold off the Braves in the bottom of the ninth to get the scenario described below -- that being the Mets and Braves can each clinch tomorrow if they split their doubleheader; the D-backs can clinch only if one of those teams wins both games.

Mets defeat Brewers 5-0

Presuming the Royals defeat the Braves and the Diamondbacks do the same to the Padres, then the Mets and Braves will clinch a playoff berth with a single win as part of Monday's doubleheader. The D-backs, meanwhile, would require one of those teams to sweep the other to get in.

If the results hold ...

The Royals would be the fifth seed in the AL, the Tigers the sixth seed. In other words, the Royals would face the Orioles, the Tigers the Astros.

Important scores as of 5:20 p.m. ET

Sure looks like we're going to have meaningful baseball on Monday. Here's where the important games sit:

Mets up 5-0 in the eighth. The win alone will not clinch a postseason berth for the Mets. They would need to win one game Monday to get in (barring a D-backs collapse today).

Braves down 4-2 in the seventh. The loss will not eliminate the Braves. Like the Mets, the Braves would need to win one game Monday (again, barring a D-backs collapse today).

D-backs up 9-2 in the seventh. Arizona can not clinch a postseason berth with a win. It will only make a difficult path a little easier. A loss today would have put them in dire straights though.

If these scores hold, the Mets and Braves will go into Monday's makeup doubleheader needing one win each to qualify for the postseason. The D-backs would need one team to sweep the doubleheader to get in.

Arraez is out of the game

He finishes with a .314 batting average overall, and a .318 batting average with the Padres.

Important scores as of 4:45 p.m. ET

Mets up 5-0 in the sixth. Francisco Lindor hit a home run, his first since missing all those games with a back injury. This game means nothing to the Brewers, who just want to make it through the afternoon without any injuries.

D-backs up 7-1 in the seventh. Arizona broke this one open with a six-run fourth inning against the Padres. Luis Arraez got his 200th hit of the season to seal his third straight batting title.

Braves down 4-2 in the sixth. The Braves do not need to win today to clinch a postseason berth, but a loss would make it necessary to win a game Monday. The Royals aren't playing for anything other than wild-card seeding. They're in the postseason already.

If these scores hold, the Braves and Mets will go into Monday's doubleheader each needing one win to get into the postseason. The D-backs would need one of those two teams to sweep to get in.

Gilbert's perfect game ends

Nick Allen just singled to break up the perfecto with two outs in the top of the sixth. Looks like that'll also bring Gilbert's day and season to a close.

Arraez doubles

That's his 200th hit of the season and pretty much clinches his third straight batting title. Three straight batting titles with three different teams too. That's never been done before.

Raleigh hits a record-setting dinger

He's hit more home runs in his first four years than any catcher in history. Here's his latest:

Raleigh also played Gold Glove defense and led the majors in innings caught this season. The batting average isn't pretty, I know, but the all-around play is exemplary. What a player.

Ohtani is 0-3

That pretty much does it for the Triple Crown. Here's the math on his path to passing Arraez:

Dodgers have already pulled Mookie. Wouldn't be surprised if they take Ohtani out soon.

A's without a baserunner through five

Mariners righty Logan Gilbert has struck out seven of the 15 batters he's faced.

D-backs break it open

A six-run fourth gives them a 6-1 lead over the Padres in what is essentially a must-win game. Ketel Marte hit a two-run dinger.

This game means nothing to Padres, who are locked into the top wild-card spot. Don't be surprised if they pull some regulars soon and pack it in for the afternoon. They have no reason to play hard or risk injury.

Important scores as of 4:11 p.m. ET

Braves down 3-1 to Royals in the forth. Atlanta does not need to win today to clinch a postseason spot. A Diamondbacks loss puts them in as well. Also, the Tigers are down big to the White Sox. If the scores hold, Kansas City will be the No. 5 seed (and go to Baltimore) and the Tigers will be the No. 6 seed (and go to Houston).

Mets up 3-0 over Brewers in the fourth. The Mets can not be eliminated today, but a win would greatly improve their postseason chances if the D-backs beat the Padres. This game means nothing to Milwaukee. Their priority is making it out with no injuries.

D-backs up 3-1 over the Padres in the fourth. Arizona rallied in the fourth to take the lead. If these three scores hold, both games of Monday's doubleheader would be necessary to decide the postseason field. Fun!

Early no-hit watches

The last game of the season tends to inspire favorable pitching conditions, with batters and umpires both readily expanding their zones. Of the teams already playing today, just two are still without a hit: the Cubs (vs. Reds, top of the fourth) and the Athletics (vs. Mariners, bottom of the fourth). 

Braves get one back

It's now 3-1 Royals after Gio Urshela's third inning solo homer:

The D-backs are still down 1-0 in the fourth. An Arizona loss puts Atlanta in the postseason no matter what the Braves do today.