Four teams, two seeds

Just three games remain in the 2016 DMBL season, and still not all has been decided about the playoffs - or even who's in.

Tucson (95-64) has all but secured the top seed and a first-round bye and Arkansas (92-67) last night locked up the Fisk Division, and with it at least the second seed and a first-round bye. It's conceivable that the two finish in a tie at 95 wins, but just one win by the Scorpions, or an Arkansas loss, will clinch the No. 1 spot.

The defending champion Golden Falcons have been playing like it, winning four in a row, and climbing the standings of the Fisk Division, fending off Allentown and Vancouver, who now hope to nab the two Wild Card spots. After losing three in a row early this month, the Golden Falcons have won 10 of 13, including 6 wins over Empire City(64-95) and El Paso (66-93). Since early August, Arkansas has compiled 7 winning streaks of at least 3 games, including two stretches of 6 in a row. Dallas Keuchel (19-5) will take his final stab at his 20th win Friday night in San Francisco.

And like Arkansas, San Francisco has won four in a row but haven't quite shaken Hillsborough off their tail, leading the Drabek Division by two games with three to play after shellacking Philly by scores of 7-0 and 13-2. The Experience will throw Patrick Corbin, Chris Sale and Adam Warren -- who also will seek his 20th win (19-6) -- at the Golden Falcons, who are expected to counter with Keuchel, Matt Harvey and Edinson Volquez.

San Francisco also is battling to determine the No. 3 seed, for which it's currently tied with Sardine City (86-73). The Van Slyke Division champions have won 8 of 10 and face Tucson. As division winners, both would host a first-round playoff series, it's just a matter of whether they are the No. 3 seed facing No. 6 (potentially Vancouver, Hopatcong or even Hillsborough); or as the No. 4 seed squaring off against the No. 5 seed (chances are Allentown, but still possibly Vancouver or Hopatcong).

Allentown (88-71) sits two games ahead for the No. 5 seed and one win by the Mules would essentially lock it up. Tthe race for the last Wild Card has turned into a war of attribution between Vancouver and Hopatcong. The Floating Fish have been hit by the injury bug, losing Stephen Strasburg last month, and just getting Mike Moustakas back this week only to lose Jeff Manship. They were on the receiving end of Arkansas' four-game win streak, falling 8 games back of Tucson, but more importantly, still tied with Vancouver for the final playoff seed (86-73).

Last night it was Hopatcong's bugaboo that resulted in a walk-off win for the Golden Falcons. Hopatcong closer Aroldis Chapman walked Anthony Rizzo to start the 9th. Rizzo stole second before Carlos Ruiz, pinch hitting for Mitch Moreland, slapped a double to right center to send Arkansas home with a 2-1 win -- and a division crown. Despite Allentown's 3-2 victory over Marietta, which eliminated the Mighty Men, the Mules can no longer catch the Falcons for the Fisk.

Last night's game was a microcosm of Hopatcong's season, which could have taken a slightly different turn had their balls bounced in their favor: The Fish are just 3-13 when tied after 7 innings -- and a league-worst 15-27 in 1-run games -- despite a stellar 75-3 when leading after 7. If they squeeze just two wins out of either of those subpar records, they're in the playoffs already.

The good news for Hopatcong is that they face Hoboken (73-86) and their fifth starter, Julio Teheran, tonight against Kyle Hendricks. The bad news is the rotation turns over and the Fish will be staring at Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer to conclude the season (Kershaw needs 12 strikeouts to reach 300 this year). Hopatcong will throw former Cutter Mike Leake and Chris Young, who was signed after Strasburg went down.

A showdown between Vancouver and Hillsborough will go a long way to sorting out the potential Wild Cards as well as the Drabek Division. The Hit Men are two games out -- just one game from losing out on the division -- but also 2 games back of the final Wild Card. With their season on the line, Hillsborough is scheduled to throw out their three amigos: Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and Carlos Martinez against Vancouver's triumvirate of Felix Hernandez, Chris Archer and Johnny Cueto. That's not the best news for Hillsborough, who would probably prefer facing a lefty given their league-best 31-14 (.689) record against southpaws, but certainly not insurmountable with their league-leading 752 runs scored.

Allentown's David Price left his last start after just 6 innings and has been getting treatment in hopes of finding one more start. Not only might the Mules still be looking to lock in the 5th seed but Price is 19-10 - only one of three pitchers left with a shot at 20 wins. Scheduled starters for Allentown are Hector Santiago, Price and John Lackey on the road at Empire City, who are expected to counter with Wade Miley, Francisco Liriano and Jake Odorizzi.

Livingston (83-76) and Marietta (82-77) have secured winning seasons -- a remarkable accomplishment in the powerful Kruk Division, where all four teams were above .500. But they've been all but eliminated from playoff contention as it appears it will take 87 wins to make the postseason. Even if Livingston were to sweep Poovey Farms, and Hoboken were to sweep Hopatcong and keep them at 86 wins, a sweep for Hillsborough over Vancouver (keeping them at 86 wins) would get the Hit Men to 87 wins.

On the other side of things, Philly lost its 100th game and also secured the top pick heading into this year's draft lottery.