The MLB postseason is just around the corner. With just under two weeks left in the regular season, there’s still a lot of work to be done for teams hoping to qualify for the World Series.
Let’s break down today’s MLB standings and the playoff picture.
Who qualified for the playoffs?
The Brewers clinched the National League Central Division title on Wednesday but have yet to clinch a playoff berth after the Chicago Cubs lost 5-3 to the Oakland Athletics, clinching the division title.
Also on Wednesday, the Yankees beat the Mariners 2-1 in extra innings to clinch their first postseason berth as an AL team. The Yankees have yet to secure the AL East title or a postseason seeding.
The Guardians punched their ticket to October with a 3-2 walk-off win over the Twins in Game 10 on Thursday. The Guardians have yet to clinch the AL Central title or a postseason seeding.
Also on Thursday, the Dodgers beat the Marlins 20-4 (yes, 20-4) to clinch their 12th consecutive postseason appearance. Ohtani delivered a truly historic performance, capping off the first 50-50 season in MLB history. The Dodgers have yet to clinch the NL West title or a postseason seeding.
The Phillies beat the Mets, 12-2, on Friday to clinch a third straight playoff berth. They have yet to clinch the NL East title or a playoff berth.
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Who will be the next winner?
According to FanGraphs, the Orioles have at least a 99% chance of making the postseason. The Astros, Royals and Padres are all above 90%. The Diamondbacks, Twins and Mets all have a shot at the postseason, but still have a long way to go to get there.
The Phillies, Dodgers, Guardians, Astros and Yankees are statistically guaranteed postseason berths and are in position to win their divisions if their current leads hold. The Phillies, Dodgers, Yankees and Guardians are all expected to earn exemptions into the wild-card round.
What’s still available?
There’s still a lot left to play once a team has punched their ticket to the postseason, and while most of the division leaders are comfortably ahead, teams could be fighting for playoff positions right up until the final weekend of the season.
The 1st and 2nd seeds in each league will be awarded to the two best division winners. These teams will be exempt from the Wild Card Round and will earn the right to host the Division Series.
The No. 3 seed will be awarded to the winner of the third division, who will host a three-game wild-card series against the No. 6 seed (given the third wild-card), and the top wild-card team will receive the No. 4 seed and host a matchup against the No. 5 seed in the wild-card round.
The higher-seeded team will also have home-field advantage if they advance to the championship series.
If this season were to end, what would the playoff bracket look like?
The postseason landscape could change dramatically between now and Oct. 1. (Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports)
American League
Wild Card: #6 Minnesota Twins vs #3 Houston Astros
ALDS: Wild Card winner vs. No. 2 Cleveland Guardians*
Wild Card: #5 Kansas City Royals vs. #4 Baltimore Orioles
ALDS: Wild Card winner vs. #1 New York Yankees*
National League
Wild Card: #6 Arizona Diamondbacks vs. #3 Milwaukee Brewers*
NLDS: Wild Card winner vs. runner-up Los Angeles Dodgers*
Wild Card: No. 5 New York Mets vs. No. 4 San Diego Padres
NLDS: Wild Card winner vs. #1 Philadelphia Phillies*
(*Qualified for playoffs)
The battle for the 2024 postseason is on. (Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports)
What is a tiebreaker?
Teams that finish the season tied will no longer play Game 163. Instead, the tiebreaker will be determined first by head-to-head records, and then by division records if necessary.
The tiebreakers that may apply are as follows:
The Yankees won the tiebreaker against the Guardians.
The Guardians won the tiebreaker against the Orioles.
The Phillies won the tiebreaker against the Dodgers.
The Twins won the tiebreaker against the Tigers and Royals.
The Mets won a tiebreaker against the Padres and Diamondbacks.
The Orioles hold the tiebreaker against the Yankees with three games remaining.
The Diamondbacks hold the tiebreaker against the Padres with three games remaining.
With three games remaining, the Mets hold the tiebreaker against the Braves.
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What is the schedule for the Wild Card Series and Division Series?
Wild Card Series
Match 1: Tuesday, October 1
Match 2: Wednesday, October 2
Match 3: Thursday, October 3*
Division Series
ALDS
Match 1: Saturday, October 5
Match 2: Monday, October 7
Match 3: Wednesday, October 9
Match 4: Thursday, October 10*
Match 5: Saturday, October 12th*
National Day
Match 1: Saturday, October 5
Match 2: Sunday, October 6
Match 3: Tuesday, October 8
Game 4: Wednesday 9 October*
Match 5: Friday, October 11th*
(*if necessary)