Mets vs. Braves in Pre-Playoffs Playoff and 2 MNF Games Again

In today’s newsletter…

• Leading Off: MLB’s pre-playoffs playoff

• NFL: Dolphins and Titans could struggle for offense

• WNBA: Lynx trying to avoid 0-2 series start at home

• Tennis: Gauff faces Osaka in Beijing

• NFL Rewind: Jayden Daniels’ amazing efficiency in Week 4

• Overtime: RIP Dikembe Mutombo

The Mets and Braves play a doubleheader today because Hurricane Helene forced two games from last week to be rescheduled. This is no ordinary doubleheader, though, as both games have playoff implications. Here are the scenarios:

• If either team wins both games: The winner gets the 5th seed, the loser doesn’t make the playoffs and the Diamondbacks get the 6th seed.

• If they split the two games: The Braves get the 5th seed, the Mets get the 6th seed and the Diamondbacks don’t make the playoffs.

No matter what there will be a quick turnaround: The NL’s 6th seed will travel to Milwaukee for a 5:32pm (ET) start tomorrow and the 5th seed will fly across the country to play San Diego at 8:38pm (ET). So if the Braves win the first game, will they rest everyone for game 2 — since a loss wouldn’t change their seeding — and end up making it easier for their division rival to make the playoffs? We could find out.

In today’s newsletter, Jack is covering two Monday Night Football games and Chris has the WNBA playoffs and WTA tennis.

- Abe Rakov