MLB Playoff Picture Heats Up!
With less than a week to go before the MLB postseason kicks off, the stakes are incredibly high. Recent games have shaken up the AL East and AL Central races, making the final stretch a nail-biter for fans and teams alike. Let's dive into the current playoff picture and see who's in the driver's seat.
Who Has Clinched?
- Blue Jays: Tied with the Yankees for the AL East lead. The winner gets the coveted No. 1 seed in the AL, while the loser settles for the top wild card and the No. 4 seed. Toronto currently holds the tiebreaker.
- Mariners: Positioned to win the AL West and secure the No. 2 seed in the AL.
- Yankees: Also tied with the Blue Jays, fighting for that top AL seed.
- Brewers: Clinched the NL Central and are in line to secure the NL's No. 1 seed.
- Phillies: Dominated the NL East, clinching the No. 2 seed and a bye to the NLDS.
- Dodgers: On track to win the NL West and secure the No. 3 seed.
- Cubs: Currently in line to secure the top wild card in the NL and the No. 4 seed.
- Padres: Projected to secure the second NL wild card and the No. 5 seed.
Potential Playoff Bracket (If the Season Ended Today)
Here's a glimpse at what the playoff bracket could look like:
American League
- Wild Card: No. 6 Detroit Tigers vs. No. 3 Cleveland Guardians
- ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Seattle Mariners
- Wild Card: No. 5 Boston Red Sox vs. No. 4 New York Yankees
- ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays
National League
- Wild Card: No. 6 New York Mets vs. No. 3 L.A. Dodgers
- NLDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies
- Wild Card: No. 5 San Diego Padres vs. No. 4 Chicago Cubs
- NLDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers
Who's on the Verge?
The Red Sox are close to clinching a playoff spot, with their magic number down to two. The Mariners are just one win away from winning the AL West and two away from securing a bye to the ALDS. The Brewers are also close to securing the best record in baseball.