With just three games left for the Chicago Cubs, the team can theoretically still sink into a tie for the third-worst record in baseball. The White Sox are at 62-96 while the Cubs stand at 66-93. That means, if the White Sox win their four remaining games, and the Cubs lose their three, the Cubs will pick third in the 2014 draft by virtue of the toilet tiebreaker. An unlikely outcome, to be sure.
As for the fourth place spot, the Twins are coming on strong with a nice losing stretch of their own. At 66-92, they are “tied” with the Cubs in the win column, but have one extra game to play. If the two teams end up tied, once again, the Cubs hold the tiebreaker. For the Twins, those four games come against the Indians, who are fighting to hold onto one of the Wild Card spots in the AL. It’s easy to see them losing three of four, if not all four. Should they lose three, and finish 67-95, the Cubs would need to lose two of three to the Cardinals to hold onto the fourth spot. If the Twins are swept, the Cubs, too, would have to be swept.
With some untimely winning, the Mariners have now put themselves out of position to move “up” in the reverse standings, and the fifth place spot is the lowest the Cubs can fall.
So, it’s Twins or Cubs for that fourth spot next year. The Draft excitement starts early, eh! Go, Twins!