With just two days of games remaining in the 2014 MLB regular season, the complete playoff picture has still not been sorted out, as one playoff spot and two division titles are still up for grabs at this point.
There are a number of teams that managed to stay in contention heading into the final month of the season, but three teams in particular stand out as having entered September with a real chance at making the playoffs, only to squander that opportunity.
At the start of the month, the Milwaukee Brewers were tied atop the NL Central standings, the Atlanta Braves were 1.5 games back for the No. 2 NL wild-card spot and the Seattle Mariners were a half-game back for the second spot on the AL side of things.
Technically the Mariners have not been eliminated from contention just yet, but they will need to win their final two games and have the Oakland A’s lose their final two games just to set up a one-game playoff, so things are looking bleak.
So with those three teams in mind, what follows is a look at one hitter and one pitcher who can be pegged as a scapegoat in the team’s failed pennant chase.