Bonds Division on the line on final day of 2020

After 161 games, including a 16-game losing streak, Hopatcong still sits at the top of the Bonds Division. Yet, it's still the lone undecided playoff seed because that lead is just 1/2 game with one game to play.

San Francisco has ended its season at 87-75 (.537) while Hopatcong has one game left to play and sits at 87-74 (.534). A win tonight at home against Tucson and the Floating Fish return to the playoffs after a 105-loss season -- two years removed from the DMBL Series -- as the No. 4 seed with an 88-74 (.543) mark. A loss by the Fish would force a play-in game with The Experience to decide the division between the two 87-win squads.

Hopatcong is scheduled to send No. 2 starter Kyle Hendricks to the mound in Tucson, where they'll aim to sweep the King Snakes, who are likely to counter with Luke Weaver. Should they fall and a tiebreaker game be necessary, the Fish could turn to Mike Fiers to start a play-in game against San Francisco.

If a play-in game is warranted, it would be played Saturday in Hopatcong, since the Floating Fish hold a 10-4 head-to-head advantage versus San Francisco this season. The Experience probably would have their Ben McDonald Award candidate, Tyler Glasnow (15-4), available, who technically would have one more shot to improve his regular season numbers. He currently leads the league in ERA (2.98), ahead of Sardine City's Lance Lynn (3.17).

San Fran won 4 of their last 5 games to end the season, and rode a 7-game win streak before a 3-game slide prior to that. Hopatcong had a commanding lead in the division most of the season before a 16-game losing streak in August brought them back to the pack.

Whoever emerges as the Clemente Division champion would be the No. 4 seed and have the worst record in the field of six. They're assured of a first-round matchup against No. 5 Livingston, a 100-win wildcard team and the defending champions.

Tiebreakers have occurred at least four times in DMBL history, twice for wild-card spots and twice for division titles:

2018

Both Arkansas and Tucson lost on the season's final day, finishing the regular season with identical records (88-74) to tie for the Clemente Division. The King Snakes bludgeoned the Golden Falcons, 10-0, to win the division, punch their ticket as the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, and eventually the DMBL title.

The previous three instances were under a different league alignment, with the winners of two divisions earning 1st-round byes plus four wild cards.

2004

There was a tie for the second wildcard spot, the No. 6 seed, among two teams with losing record (80-82): the Tijuana Banditos and Columbia Rattlesnakes. Columbia was the home team but the Banditos spoiled the home-field advantage by taking a 7-3 decision. Tijuana would pull off a 1st-round upset, sweeping No. 3 Carolina in 3 games before pushing No. 1 seed Arkansas to 7 games.

2003

Vancouver tied with Hillsborough for the No. 6 seed at 80-82. The Iron First earned home-field but fell, 6-3, to the Destroyers. Hillsborough would exit in the 1st round in 4 games to No. 3 Marietta.

2000

Arkansas and Vancouver tied for the Morris Division at 102-60. Arkansas hosted the play-in game and rolled over the Iron First, 14-0. This time, Vancouver could settle for the top wild card spot (No. 3) and advanced to face the Falcons in the semis, where they lost.