Nationals' wild card opponent still up in air (updated)

The Nationals, as they have made clear for the last 36 hours, are motivated to get home field advantage for the wild card game. While they intend to give most of their weary lineup regulars and relievers at least one day off this week, they're still attempting to win as many games as they can in an attempt to ensure Tuesday night's winner-take-all contest is played on South Capitol Street.

But it's no longer a formality who they will face in that game, no matter if at home or on the road.

The Brewers, refusing to slow down during a torrid final month, have now won 17 of their last 19. And though they clinched their own postseason berth Tuesday night, they still have their eyes set on an even bigger prize: the National League Central crown.

Yes, that division title is still up for grabs. The Brewers' remarkable surge, combined with a pair of Cardinals losses in Arizona, leaves them a mere 1 1/2 games back heading into the final stretch. Milwaukee (88-70) faces the Reds again today in search of a three-game sweep and a chance to move to within one game of idle St. Louis (90-69).

The Brewers travel to Coors Field to face the Rockies this weekend, while the Cardinals host the Cubs. The way things stand, there's a good chance this won't be settled until Saturday at the earliest, perhaps even later.

There's also now a real possibility of a tie between the two division rivals. If that happens, they'd play Monday in St. Louis, with the winner declared the NL Central champ and the loser forced to face the Nationals the next night in the wild card game.

Where that game would take place is very much up in the air. The Nats would have to play on the road if they end up tied with either potential opponent, having lost their season series with each. But there's one possible wrinkle to the whole equation: A tiebreaker game counts in the regular season standings.

What does that mean? Well, let's say at the end of play Sunday the Nationals are 92-70, and so is the wild card participant from the Central. The Nats wouldn't get home field advantage. But let's say all three teams end up 92-70. In that scenario, the Brewers and Cardinals would have to play a tiebreaker game Monday, and the loser of that game would officially end the regular season with a 92-71 record. The Nationals would finish 1/2-game ahead of them and thus get to host the wild card game.

Pretty wild, huh?

(UPDATE: My apologies, I was wrong about that scenario. According to an MLB official, the result of a tiebreaker Game 163 would have no bearing on home field advantage for the wild card game. If the Nationals, Brewers and Cardinals all end up with the same record after 162 games, the loser of Monday's tiebreaker game in St. Louis would get to host the Nats in Tuesday's wild card game, based on the better head-to-head record. So the only way the wild card game can be played in Washington is if the Nationals have a better overall record than their opponent after 162 games.)

That's still a pretty far-fetched possibility, though. The more likely scenario has the Cardinals hanging on to win the Central and the Brewers taking the wild card. If that happens, the Nationals still would very much like to keep the game in D.C.

Brian Dozier, who played for the Dodgers against the Brewers in last year's National League Championship Series, explained why.

"I've been telling these guys, NLCS last year when I was with the Dodgers facing the Brewers, it's the most electric stadium I've ever been a part of my whole career," Dozier said. "I mean, when you pack that stadium out, it was electric and it gets so loud. ... I'm not saying we can't win there, by any means. But I think it's important we try to stay here for sure."

There's only four days left for this to all sort itself out. Unless it ends up requiring five days.