MLB playoffs: Wild-Card tiebreaker scenarios for Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (48, right) reacts after he made the play for the final out in the top of the 9th inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees shortstop Andrew Velazquez throws out Boston Red Sox's Kevin Plawecki over third baseman Rougned Odor on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees celebrate after the final out in the top of the 9th inning was confirmed against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees Rougned Odor (12) rounds third base and motors home to score the Yanks' second run of the game in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

Boston Red Sox left fielder J.D. Martinez (28) can't catch this single hit by New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) in the second inning on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman (54) watches the flight of a solo home run hit by Boston Red Sox right fielder Hunter Renfroe (10) in the top of the 9th inning on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) and catcher Gary Sanchez walk out to the mound to pull closer Aroldis Chapman in the 9th inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

A fan holds up a sign that reads 'Yanks Sweep Sox' as the Bombers take the lead in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees Rougned Odor (12) was originally called out by umpire Jerry Meals (41, right) in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The call was overturned after video review and Odor would score the Yankees second run of the game.

A fan offers to trade his brothers for an autograph from New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge (99) before the first pitch against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

Boston Red Sox left fielder J.D. Martinez (28) can't catch this single hit by New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) in the second inning on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

The scene on the mound in the second inning as Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13, right) comes out to remove starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (37, center) from the game on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees third baseman Rougned Odor (12) salute the bleacher creatures during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) watches the flight of a home run hit by Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) in the first inning on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99, left) and manager Aaron Boone (17) in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) pounds his right bicep as he rounds third after he hit a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (11) legs out an infield hit as Boston Red Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec (29) can't handle the throw on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo flies out to left during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Andrew Heaney (38) delivers the first pitch against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99, left) and manager Aaron Boone (17) in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Andrew Heaney (38) was on the mound against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees shortstop Andrew Velazquez (71) is congratulated by manager Aaron Boone (17) after Velazquez scored in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) grimaces during an at-bat during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (48, right) speaks with third base coach Phil Nevin (88) during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees celebrate after the final out in the top of the 9th inning was confirmed against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit (59) did not play on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (48, right) reacts after he made the play for the final out in the top of the 9th inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees shortstop Andrew Velazquez (71) makes a play at short on a ground ball hit by Boston Red Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec in the 8th inning on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees shortstop Andrew Velazquez (71) makes a play at short on a ground ball hit by Boston Red Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec in the 8th inning on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees shortstop Andrew Velazquez (71) delivers an RBI single in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman reacts after he walked a Boston Red Sox batter in the 9th on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees shortstop Andrew Velazquez (71), a Bronx native, in the field against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27, left) and manager Aaron Boone (17) in the dugout against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees shortstop Andrew Velazquez (71) takes off from first base as Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Josh Taylor (38) delivers a pitch on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

New York Yankees shortstop Andrew Velazquez (71), a Bronx native, during an at bat against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won, 5-2.

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Three teams sit atop the American League Wild-Card standings, but only two can qualify for the postseason. So how will MLB decide if the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays finish the season in a three-way tie?

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MLB.com tackled the issue by posting the 2021 postseason tiebreaker scenarios.

Three-team tie for two Wild-Card spots

If the Blue Jays, Yankees and Red Sox were all tied, with no other non-division winners in the AL ahead of them, the three teams would choose/receive A, B and C designations. Club A would host Club B. The winner of that game would be one Wild-Card club, while the loser would then play Club C on the road to determine the other. The winners of the two games would face each other in the Wild Card Game. The three designations are decided by head-to-head records.

Two teams tie for Wild Card

This would not involve any extra games. ... If, say, the Blue Jays and Yankees were the only two clubs in AL Wild-Card position at season’s end and had identical records, they would not play an extra game to determine who gets home-field advantage in the Wild Card Game. It would go to the team with the better head-to-head record (in that case, Toronto).

Two teams tie for the second Wild-Card spot

If, for example, the Yankees and Red Sox tied for the second AL Wild-Card spot, they’d have to play each other Monday, Oct. 4, for the right to advance to the AL Wild Card Game on Tuesday, Oct. 5. Home-field advantage would go to the team with the better head-to-head record.

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Here’s how the current wild-card standings look:

Blue Jays (82-64): --

Yankees (82-64): --

Red Sox (83-65): --

Oakland A’s (78-67): 3.5

Seattle Mariners (78-68): 4

Here are the games of note Thursday which will impact the AL wild-card race:

A’s @ Kansas City Royals (2:10 p.m. ET)

Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles (5:05 p.m. ET)

The Blue Jays, Red Sox and Mariners are off Thursday.

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.

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