Could this remarkable baseball season wind down any other way? As the season's final weekend begins today:
Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are tied for the home run record with 65 and face the prospect that the Cubs could tie for the wild-card and Sosa could get to play an extra game - a playoff on Monday.
The Giants are within one game of the idle Mets and Cubs for the NL's last playoff spot after beating the Pirates 6-2 Thursday to complete a four-game sweep.
The Rangers have clinched a tie for the division title by beating the Mariners 9-3 Thursday night. The next Rangers' victory or Angels' loss decides it.
The Boston Red Sox clinched the AL wild-card berth with a 9-6 win over the Orioles.
The Yankees matched the American League mark of 111 wins by beating the Devil Rays 5-2. New York (111-48) equaled the 1954 Cleveland Indians (111-43) and trails only the 1906 Chicago Cubs (116-36) for victories.
In the NL wild-card race, San Francisco, the Mets and the Cubs all finish with three games on the road. The Giants visit Colorado (76-83) while the Mets play at East champion Atlanta (103-56) and the Cubs play at Central champion Houston (100-59).
"I couldn't pick two finer cities for them to play in. Hopefully, Atlanta and Houston will play well," Giants manager Dusty Baker said.
Baseball coverage from Associated Press
Home run race
