Dodgers and Giants tie? Tiebreaker would be Oct. 4

CINCINNATI — The Dodgers fell two games behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West standings Friday with 14 games remaining after their 3-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds and the Giants’ 6-5 win over the Atlanta Braves. A tie remains very possible.

So, what happens if they finish the season with the same record?

Well, the same thing that happened in 2018 when the Dodgers and Colorado Rockies completed their 162game schedules with even records.

The Dodgers and Rockies played a tiebreaker the day after they each finished the regular season 91-71. Game 163 (it counted as part of the regular season) was held at Dodger Stadium because the Dodgers won the season series. The Dodgers won and ended up advancing to the World Series, where they lost to the Boston Red Sox.

This year, the Dodgers would not have home-field advantage in a tiebreaker. The Giants took two of three games in the rivals’ last series of the season to eke out a 10-9 season series victory.

The game, as a result, would be held Oct. 4 at Oracle Park. The winner would advance to the NL Division Series and get some time off. The loser would host the NL wild-card game Oct. 6, meaning that club would play three games in four days. Both NL Division Series are scheduled to begin Oct. 8.