BOSTON -- Odd as it might sound, the Red Sox may not know when they are playing Game 1 against the Angels until Tuesday night.
Major League Baseball rules allow the club with the best record to select which series they want to participate in. The New York Yankees have secured the American League's top record and have their choice of selecting the series with an extra day off or the one that would follow a more traditional playoff format.
Series A would be as follows: Wednesday, Game 1. Thursday, day off. Friday, Game 2. Saturday, travel day. Next Sunday, Game 3. Oct. 12, Game 4. Oct. 13, travel day. Oct. 14, Game 5.
Series B is as follows: Thursday, Game 1. Friday, Game 2. Saturday, travel day. Next Sunday, Game 3. Oct. 12, Game 4. Oct. 13, travel day. Oct. 14, Game 5.
MLB rules also stipulate that the club with the best record does not have to make a final decision until one hour after the last regular season game is played. Because Detroit and Minnesota could wind up tied in the A.L. Central, the two could play one extra game to determine the division winner. Minnesota won the season series and would host the extra game.
But because the NFL holds primary tenant rights at the Metrodome in Minneapolis it has the rights to Monday. The Vikings are hosting the Packers in a game full of hype because Brett Favre will be playing against his former team on Monday Night Football.
That means the earliest the Tigers and Twins could play is Tuesday, a game that would start late in the afternoon or early evening. The Yankees could hold off their decision until late that night, meaning the Red Sox could work out at Angels Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, leave the park and still not know if they are playing Game 1 against the Angels the next day or on Thursday.
Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Contributors
Gordon Edes
Gordon Edes, who joined ESPNBoston.com in Nov. 2009, has covered MLB for more than 25 years. He spent 12 years covering the Sox for the Globe. Ask a question for his next mailbag.
Peter Gammons
Peter Gammons serves as a studio analyst on "Baseball Tonight" and Baseball Today. He also provides Diamond Notes and other reports for "SportsCenter." Gammons has been a senior writer for ESPN The Mag since December 1999 and contributes to ESPN.com.
Chris Forsberg
Chris Forsberg has been reporting on the Boston sports scene since 1999. With his video camera in tow, Forsberg covered everything from Massachusetts high school sports to Boston's pro sports teams. Follow him on Twitter.
