The Major League Baseball playoffs are approaching in the next few days, and each team desiring a championship title still possesses significant opportunities to improve their standing.
We will examine the potential outcomes for the playoffs, what remains to be decided, who may secure their spot soon, and the scheduled matchups leading up to Wednesday’s games.
Which teams have solidified their participation in the playoffs?
The Mariners earned their playoff entry through a dramatic comeback triumph against the Rockies on Tuesday. They are positioned to claim their first American League West title since 2001 and attain the second-highest ranking in the American League.
The Yankees confirmed their playoff presence with a game-winning victory over the White Sox on Tuesday. They are slated to secure the top wild card spot in the American League and the fourth-highest ranking.
The Padres secured a playoff berth via an additional-innings, game-ending win on Monday. They are expected to obtain the second National League wild card and the fifth-highest ranking.
The Blue Jays locked in their playoff participation on September 21. They are in contention to win the American League East and achieve the premier ranking in the American League.
The Dodgers formalized their playoff entry on September 19. They are likely to win the National League West and attain the third-highest ranking.
The Cubs verified their playoff position on September 17. They are forecasted to secure the leading wild card in the National League and the fourth-highest ranking.
The Phillies confirmed their playoff entry on September 14. They emerged victorious in the National League East and are expected to achieve the National League’s second-highest ranking.
The Brewers were the first to seal their playoff spot on September 13. They captured the National League Central title and are projected to secure the National League’s premier ranking.
If the season ended at this moment, how would the playoff matchups appear?
(Davis Long/Yahoo Sports)
American League
Wild card: No. 6 Detroit Tigers versus No. 3 Cleveland Guardians
ALDS: Wild-card victor competing against No. 2 Seattle Mariners
Wild card: No. 5 Boston Red Sox versus No. 4 New York Yankees
ALDS: Wild-card victor competing against No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays
National League
Wild card: No. 6 New York Mets versus No. 3 L.A. Dodgers
NLDS: Wild-card victor competing against No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies
Wild card: No. 5 San Diego Padres versus No. 4 Chicago Cubs
NLDS: Wild-card victor competing against No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers
Which teams are on the verge of clinching their spot?
The Red Sox need just three more wins to confirm their playoff presence. The Mariners require a single victory to secure the American League West title.
In the National League, the Dodgers have a slim 1.5-game advantage in the National League West, which is the final division yet to be decided. The Mets are clinging to the last wild-card spot by a single game over the Reds.
In the American League, the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Mariners have already guaranteed their postseason participation. Also positioned for the playoffs are the Tigers, Red Sox, and Guardians. The Blue Jays, Mariners, and Guardians (by virtue of a tiebreaker over the Tigers) are currently leading their respective divisions, with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Tigers composing the wild-card contenders.
Which of these MLB stars will lead his team to a World Series title this fall? (Davis Long/Yahoo Sports)
A comprehensive review of each team’s recent playoff standing
Navigate to a specific team by selecting the links provided below:
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays clinched their playoff spot Sunday with their victory against the Royals, marking them as the first American League team to qualify for the postseason. They possess a one-game advantage over the Yankees in the American League East. Toronto’s 90 victories lead the American League, positioning them to secure the top seed, earning them a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the division series.
Upcoming schedule: The Blue Jays conclude the regular season at their home stadium, with two additional games against the Red Sox and three against the Rays, commencing on Friday.
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners swept the Astros in their weekend series, placing them in a favorable position to win their first American League West title since 2001. They also possess the tiebreaker advantage over the Astros. They are currently poised to secure the second-highest ranking in the American League and a bye into the division series. Their magic number to clinch the American League West is just one.
Upcoming schedule: The Mariners conclude the regular season at home, beginning with two more games against the Rockies. Their concluding series is a three-game set against the Dodgers, starting on Friday.
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians sustained their strong performance on Tuesday, tying Detroit for the lead in the American League Central. Tuesday’s victory also guaranteed Cleveland the tiebreaker advantage over Detroit. The Guardians have emerged victorious in 11 of their last 12 games and are on course to achieve one of the most remarkable comebacks in Major League Baseball history, having been 15.5 games behind in July.
Upcoming schedule: Two more games against the Tigers with significant division implications. Cleveland concludes the regular season with a three-game series against Texas at their home stadium.
New York Yankees
They trail the Blue Jays in the American League East by a single game with five remaining, and Toronto possesses the tiebreaker advantage over New York. The Yankees are presently the leading wild-card team in the American League, holding a three-game advantage over the Red Sox.
Upcoming schedule: The Yankees conclude the season at their home stadium. Following two more games against the Chicago White Sox, the Yankees’ regular season concludes with three more games against the Orioles.
Boston Red Sox
Amid the uncertainty surrounding them, the Red Sox have maintained their hold on the second American League wild card and the fifth-highest ranking for a significant portion of the past two months. They are currently projected to face the Yankees for three games in the Bronx to begin the playoffs.
Upcoming schedule: The Red Sox play two additional games against Toronto, hoping to disrupt the division standings. They conclude the regular season by hosting the Tigers in a three-game series.
Detroit Tigers
They suffered a defeat in the opener against the Guardians on Tuesday, marking their seventh consecutive loss, and fell into a tie in the American League Central with Cleveland. With the loss, Detroit also forfeited the tiebreaker advantage to Cleveland. This team once commanded a substantial 15.5-game lead in the division, which has now vanished.
Upcoming schedule: Two more games in Cleveland. Subsequently, Detroit concludes the regular season at the Red Sox, who presently hold the second American League wild-card spot.
Houston Astros
The Astros were recently swept by the Mariners, making their division title aspirations largely unattainable. They now trail Seattle by three games and are competing for the third wild card in the American League. Currently on the periphery, Houston will be anxiously monitoring the outcomes over the final week.
Upcoming schedule: The Astros conclude the season on the road but against teams that should provide them with opportunities for victories. They have two more games against the A’s before visiting the Angels for a three-game series to conclude the regular season.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are progressing steadily toward securing the top seed in the National League and achieving the best record in baseball. They have already clinched the National League Central title.
Upcoming schedule: The Brewers conclude the season against National League wild-card contenders who are vying for their respective spots. First, they are at the Padres for one more game on Wednesday. Subsequently, they host the Reds for three games to conclude the regular season.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have been a prominent team in baseball throughout the season, and they were the first to secure a division title, leaving the Mets behind as they won the National League East on September 16. They are positioned to claim the second-highest ranking in the National League and, consequently, a bye into the division series. The magic number for a bye into the NLDS is just one.
Upcoming schedule: The Phillies conclude the regular season at home against teams with limited objectives. They host the Marlins for two more games to begin the week, followed by three against the Twins next weekend.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are poised to win yet another National League West title, holding a 1.5-game lead over the Padres with five games remaining. They are on track to secure the third-highest ranking and host a wild-card series.
Upcoming schedule: The Dodgers conclude the season on the road against contenders. First, they visit the Diamondbacks for two more games, and then they conclude the regular season with three games in Seattle this weekend.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have already secured their first postseason berth since 2020. Despite having one of the top records in the sport, they will secure a wild card and finish behind the Brewers in the National League Central. The Cubs are projected to attain the fourth-highest ranking and hosting responsibilities in the wild-card round.
Upcoming schedule: The Cubs conclude the regular season at Wrigley field, first hosting the wild-card-contending Mets during the week and subsequently hosting the already eliminated Cardinals for three games this weekend.
San Diego Padres
The Padres presently hold the National League’s second wild-card spot. They clinched their postseason spot on Monday. If the standings remain consistent, San Diego will conclude as the fifth-highest seed and face the Cubs at Wrigley in the wild-card round.
Upcoming schedule: The Padres conclude the season at home, first with one more game against the Brewers. They conclude the season with three games against the Diamondbacks, who could be competing for that final wild-card berth.
New York Mets
The Mets are nearing a significant, late-season collapse, as they are only one game ahead of the Reds and Diamondbacks for the National League’s final wild-card spot after losing 11 of their past 16 games. Cincinnati possesses the tiebreaker advantage based on their head-to-head record, so the Mets must finish ahead in the standings to qualify for the postseason.
Upcoming schedule: The Mets conclude the season on a road trip, facing the Cubs and Marlins. They may need to rely on the Cubs being more focused on preparing for the playoffs rather than winning additional games. However, the Marlins might present a challenge with an opportunity to finish above .500.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds have been victorious in six of their last eight games to capitalize on the Mets’ decline and challenge them for the National League’s final wild-card bid. With a 4-2 record against the Mets this season, Cincinnati possesses the tiebreaker advantage. Both teams need to secure victories to remain ahead of the Diamondbacks.
Upcoming schedule: The Reds conclude their home schedule with two more games against the Pirates (with Paul Skenes scheduled to start on Wednesday). Cincinnati subsequently visits Milwaukee for a three-game set. The Brewers might have clinched the National League’s best record by that point and consequently have limited objectives to pursue.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Positioned closely behind the Mets and tied with the Reds in the wild-card standings are the Diamondbacks, who could secure the National League’s final playoff spot if the teams ahead of them falter. Arizona has won seven of its past 10 games to position itself to earn a surprising postseason bid.
Upcoming schedule: Perhaps no team faces a more challenging final schedule than the Diamondbacks. First, they host the Dodgers for their final two home games. Subsequently, they conclude the season with three games at San Diego.
What other opportunities remain available?
The top two seeds in each league are awarded to the division winners with the two best records. These teams secure a bye through the wild-card round and hosting rights in the division series. Presently, the Brewers, Phillies, Mariners, and Blue Jays are positioned to claim those byes.
The third seed is awarded to the remaining division winner, and that team will host the three-game wild-card series against the sixth seed (which goes to the third wild card). The leading wild-card team will earn the fourth seed and host the fifth seed (the second wild card) in the wild-card round.
The higher seed also gains home-field advantage in the championship series, should they advance that far.
What criteria are used to break ties?
Teams no longer participate in a Game 163 if they conclude the season tied. Instead, tiebreakers are determined by head-to-head records initially and, if necessary, intradivision records subsequently.
The following tiebreakers could potentially be invoked:
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The Blue Jays have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Red Sox, Yankees, and Tigers.
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The Red Sox have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Yankees.
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The Tigers have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Astros.
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The Guardians have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Astros and Tigers.
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The Astros have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Blue Jays.
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The Mariners have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Tigers and Astros.
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The Mets have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Phillies and Padres.
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The Phillies have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Dodgers.
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The Brewers have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Phillies.
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The Cubs have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Brewers.
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The Reds have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Mets.
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The Dodgers have secured the tiebreaker advantage over the Padres.
What is the planned schedule for the postseason?
Wild-card series (best of three)
Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 2*
Division series (best of five)
ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 5
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 7
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 8*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 10*
NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 11*
Championship series (best of seven)
ALCS
Game 1: Sunday, Oct 12
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 13
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 15
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 17*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 19*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 20*
NLCS
Game 1: Monday, Oct 13
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 21*
World Series (best of seven)
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29*
Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1*
(*if necessary)
