We're saying there's a chance: What longshot MLB playoff hopefuls need to go right this weekend

The Tigers, Mariners, Red Sox and Cubs face long -- but not impossible -- odds to reach the 2024 MLB postseason

By Matt Snyder Sep 13, 2024 at 3:15 pm ET• 5 min read

The Major League Baseball season, entering Friday, Sept. 13, has 17 days remaining. We've still got a few really close playoff races (AL East, NL wild card, seeding, etc.), but there are a good number of teams officially eliminated from playoff contention. What about the teams in limbo, though? That is to say, they are still technically alive but need a lot of help to make the postseason? 

I often talk about The Shawshank Redemption and the concept of "hope" being a good thing, as Andy taught Red. There's also -- on the totally opposite end of the spectrum -- the Dumb and Dumber, "so you're telling me there's a chance!" meme. What do we get at the intersection of Shawshank and Dumb? An impossibility, in all likelihood, but let's embrace the potential chaos nonetheless. 

Right now, according to SportsLine, we've got four playoff contenders with a more than 1% chance yet less than 10% chance to make the playoffs. It's a total longshot, but some extreme results this weekend could make a run realistic. 

Here they are along with what they need to happen this weekend before daring to dream.