The MLB postseason is right around the corner. And with just a few days left in the regular season, every team with World Series aspirations still has a lot to play for.
Let’s break down the state of the MLB standings and the playoff picture as it looks today.
Who has clinched a spot in the playoffs?
The Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers have clinched the NL West title and a top-two seed in the NL bracket, meaning they have a bye through the wild-card round and home-field advantage in the NLDS. They are still competing with the Phillies for the NL’s top seed and home-field advantage through the entire postseason.
The Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies have clinched the NL East title and a top-two seed in the NL bracket, meaning they have a bye through the wild-card round and home-field advantage in the NLDS. They are still competing with the Dodgers for the NL’s top seed.
The New York Yankees: The Yankees have clinched the AL East title and a top-two seed in the AL bracket, meaning they have a bye through the wild-card round and home-field advantage in the ALDS. They are still competing with the Guardians for the AL’s top seed.
The Cleveland Guardians: The Guardians have clinched the AL Central title and a top-two seed in the AL bracket, meaning they have a bye through the wild-card round and home-field advantage in the ALDS. They are still competing with the Yankees for the AL’s top seed.
The Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers were the first team to clinch their division, winning the NL Central back on Sept. 18. They have secured the No. 3 seed in the NL bracket and will host a wild-card series against the No. 6 seed.
The Houston Astros: The Astros have clinched the AL West title and the No. 3 seed in the AL bracket. They will host a wild-card series against the No. 6 seed.
The Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles have clinched the top wild card in the AL bracket. They will be the No. 4 seed and host a wild-card series vs. the No. 5 seed.
The San Diego Padres: The Padres have clinched the top wild card in the NL bracket. They will be the No. 4 seed and host a wild-card series vs. the No. 5 seed.
The Detroit Tigers: The Tigers have clinched a wild card in the AL bracket. They have not yet secured their seed but will land at No. 5 or No. 6.
The Kansas City Royals: The Royals have clinched a wild card in the AL bracket. They have not yet secured their seed but will land at No. 5 or No. 6.
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Who still needs to clinch?
Three teams — the Mets, Braves and Diamondbacks — are competing for the final two spots in the National League. According to FanGraphs, the Braves are likely to secure one of those spots, with playoff odds above 80%. The Diamondbacks and Mets are both between 50% and 60% odds.
Six of the 10 teams that have clinched their postseason berths are still competing for seeding in the playoff bracket, either among the division winners or among the wild cards. The Brewers, Astros, Padres and Orioles have secured their seeds and have nothing else to play for.
What’s still up for grabs?
Once a team clinches its ticket to the postseason, there’s still a lot to play for. Teams could be battling for playoff positioning through the final weekend of the season.
The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in each league go to the division winners with the two best records. Those teams earn a bye through the wild-card round and home-field advantage in the division series.
The No. 3 seed goes to the third division winner, and that team hosts a three-game wild-card series against the No. 6 seed (which goes to the third wild card). The top wild-card team earns the No. 4 seed and hosting duties against the No. 5 seed in the wild-card round.
The higher seed also gets home-field advantage in the championship series, once we get that far.
What would the playoff bracket look like if the season ended today?
American League
Wild card: No. 6 Kansas City Royals* vs. No. 3 Houston Astros**
ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Cleveland Guardians*
Wild card: No. 5 Detroit Tigers* vs. No. 4 Baltimore Orioles**
ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 New York Yankees*
National League
Wild card: No. 6 New York Mets vs. No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers**
NLDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies*
Wild card: No. 5 Atlanta Braves vs. No. 4 San Diego Padres**
NLDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers*
(*clinched playoff spot, **clinched postseason seed)
What are the tiebreakers?
No longer do teams play a Game 163 if they finish the season tied. Instead, tiebreakers are determined by head-to-head records first and, if needed, intradivision records second.
Here are the tiebreakers that could come into play:
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The Yankees have clinched the tiebreaker against the Guardians.
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The Phillies have clinched the tiebreakers against the Dodgers.
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The Royals have clinched the tiebreaker against the Tigers.
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The Mets have clinched the tiebreaker against the Diamondbacks.
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The Braves have clinched the tiebreaker against the Diamondbacks.
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The Braves hold the tiebreaker against the Mets, with two games left to play.
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What’s the schedule for the wild-card and division series?
Wild-card series
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 1
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 2
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 3*
Division series
ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 7
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 9
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 10*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 12*
NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 11*
(*if necessary)
