Detroit salvaged their season by winning five of their last six games. They finished the season with a record of 43-119, tallying one less loss than the 1962 Mets, whose name is synonymous with losing.

The Tigers provided the only excitement in the final days of baseball, with all the playoff participants clinching prior to the last weekend of play.

The San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves were battling for home field advantage through the National League playoffs. Atlanta ended the season half a game ahead of San Francisco. The Giants elected to skip a make-up game against the New York Mets and forfeit the chance to win home field advantage to the Braves. The game was cancelled due to the power outage in August.

The Chicago Cubs solidified their playoff position by sweeping a day-night doubleheader from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Houston Astros helped the Cubs by dropping two of four games to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Florida Marlins took the NL wild card spot away from the Philadelphia Phillies, taking all three games in their head-to-head match-up. The Phillies failed to finish strong, dropping two of their last three games to Atlanta in the last days of Veterans Stadium.

The Braves, who hold the best record in the National League, will take on the central champions, the Cubs. The Giants will take on the wild card Florida Marlins, who cannot play the Braves since they both play in the NL East.

In the American League, the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics have become playoff staples. The Athletics are making their fourth straight playoff appearance, and the Yankees are appearing for the eighth straight year.

The Minnesota Twins stormed past the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals to earn the playoff berth. Minnesota took advantage of a weaker schedule down the stretch to pull away from the Royals and White Sox.

The Boston Red Sox took the wild card, beating out the Seattle Mariners. The Red Sox took advantage of their cushy schedule, winning games against the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays while the Mariners were battling the A’s and the Anaheim Angels.

The Twins will face a tough task in the first round. They drew the Yankees, who swept the season series 6-0. The A’s will take on the Red Sox in the first round, and Red Sox fans hope that this will be their year.

The most intriguing result, although not likely, would be a World Series match-up of lovable losers. The Cubs, who have not won a World Series since 1908, could advance to take on the Red Sox, who have not won the championship since 1918. In a year full of twists and turns, anything is possible.