Hey Team 👋

With all the chaos in college football and the NFL, the MLB has taken a bit of a back seat in our updates – or maybe I was just waiting for the right moment. Now that mid-September is here, the timing feels perfect. Some teams have already punched their tickets to October, while some are teetering on the edge and still others are clawing to stay alive. Three teams from the National League have already clinched their postseason berths, while the American League Wild Card race is tight as ever. Let’s break down the MLB playoff picture so far.

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The MLB Playoff Picture

Clinched

Milwaukee Brewers - x

Over the weekend, the Crew became the first MLB team to punch their ticket to the postseason – and nobody is surprised. The Brewers have been on a tear since late May, and with key trade-deadline pickups, they don’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon.

This will be the seventh time in eight years the Brewers have made it to October, though they haven’t won a postseason series since 2018. Still, with the best record in baseball holding steady for months, this might finally be the year Milwaukee breaks through.

Philadelphia Phillies - y

The Phillies became the first – and so far only – team to clinch their division after a win over the Dodgers. What once looked like a dogfight in the NL East turned into a runaway, with the Mets collapsing while Philly surged to a 12.5-game lead, locking up the division for the second straight year.

The Phillies have stacked up postseason wins over the past three seasons, but their last World Series title came back in 2008. But with this roster and the trade-deadline reinforcements, they finally have everything they need to end that drought.

Chicago Cubs - x

The Cubs were the latest team to clinch a postseason berth on Wednesday with a win over the Pirates. Chicago will be headed to the postseason for the first time in five seasons. Of the teams that have clinched their spots, the Cubs won the World Series most recently in 2016 when they ended their 108-year drought. 

Instead of swinging for blockbusters at the deadline, the Cubs have relied on consistency and a dynamic offense all season. Kyle Tucker’s health is a question mark heading into October, but this group has shown resilience at every turn – and they look every bit the part of a contender.

AL Division Leaders

Toronto Blue Jays

The AL East has been one of the most entertaining divisions to watch this season, with three of five teams vying for a playoff spot. The best part? All three could feasibly make it to October. In fact, if the season ended today, they all would. The Blue Jays hold a four-game lead over the Yankees and a six-game lead over the Red Sox. Toronto will head to Kansas City next, but an interesting matchup lies ahead. The Jays will take on the Red Sox at home – a series that has the potential to flip the script in the AL East. Then again, with the Jays sporting a 50-25 record at home, there’s little reason to doubt their chances of holding firm.

Detroit Tigers

Not long ago, the Tigers looked comfortable atop the AL Central, but a recent slide has trimmed their lead over Cleveland to just 4.5 games. Detroit has dropped six of its last 10, including back-to-back losses to the surging Guardians. The Tigers have a chance to bounce back in their next series against the Braves, but challenges loom ahead against two teams deep in the Wild Card mix. They’ll head to Cleveland to take on the Guardians again before going to Boston to play the Red Sox. Even with the stumble, the Tigers’ roster has the depth and balance to keep them in control of the division.

Houston Astros

During the first half of the season, the Astros looked firmly in control of the AL West. But after the Mariners nailed their trade-deadline moves, the division has turned into a full-blown battle. The two clubs have traded (and even shared) the top spot in recent weeks, with Houston now holding a slim 0.5-game edge. Their upcoming head-to-head series in Houston could decide the crown, while closing matchups against the A’s and Angels give the ‘Stros a chance to pad their lead – or at least lock down a Wild Card berth.

AL Wild Card Race

New York Yankees

At this point, the Pinstripes have the best look at securing an AL Wild Card spot, with a two-game lead over the competition. After a shaky start to the season, New York looks ready for the postseason, thanks to deadline reinforcements and a healthier roster. In their last 10 games, the Yanks have gone 6-4 – and with upcoming matchups against the Orioles and White Sox to close out the regular season, their path to October looks clear.

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have just as strong a shot at the AL West crown as they do at a Wild Card spot, and their upcoming showdown with the Astros could tip the scales. Luckily, they’re getting hot at just the right time, winning nine of their last 10 games. After Houston, the Mariners get a favorable matchup with the Rockies, but a season-ending clash with the Dodgers leaves plenty of uncertainty in their path.

Boston Red Sox

As of right now, the Red Sox are clinging to the last Wild Card spot. But dropping a must-win game to the A’s on Tuesday hurt their positioning. With one game left in that series, plus an upcoming series against the Rays, Boston has a chance to stabilize. But the real challenge comes after that: Back-to-back showdowns with the Blue Jays and Tigers could make or break their postseason hopes.

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians have been one of the most exciting teams to watch this September. Just like last year, they’re heating up at the perfect time and could sneak into a Wild Card spot again. After a slow start hanging below .500, Cleveland’s offense has finally come alive. The team is on a six-game win streak and has won ten of its last twelve games. Currently 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, the Guardians face a tough road ahead: They need to be near-perfect in upcoming matchups against the Tigers, Twins and Rangers to even have a chance. A lot has to go right – but for Cleveland, that’s never been impossible.

NL Division Leaders

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are the only NL division leaders that have yet to clinch a playoff berth, but it’s just a matter of time. After being marred by injuries early in the season, the postseason didn’t always look certain for the Dodgers. But now that their roster is healthy, it doesn’t even look like a question. While the division title isn’t guaranteed, their Wild Card position is strong. They currently hold a 1.5-game lead over the Padres and get a chance to build on it in an upcoming series against the Diamondbacks, though a season-closing matchup with the Mariners could shake things up.

NL Wild Card Race

San Diego Padres

The Cubs have already clinched a Wild Card spot, meaning only two remain in the National League. Luckily, the NL Wild Card race is nowhere near as tight as the AL, and the Padres hold a five-game lead over the competition. San Diego can extend that advantage in an upcoming series against the White Sox, though late-season matchups with the Brewers and Diamondbacks could pose challenges. Avoiding disaster should secure them the second Wild Card, assuming they don’t claim the division outright.

New York Mets

The Mets are hanging on to the final NL Wild Card spot, but their remaining schedule offers some hope. They face a tough series against the Cubs, yet upcoming matchups with the Nationals and Marlins could help solidify their postseason position. Still, nothing is guaranteed, especially after losing eight of their last ten games.

Arizona Diamondbacks

I can hardly believe what I’m writing right now. After a trade deadline sell-off, it seemed like postseason contention was a distant memory for the Diamondbacks. But here they are 1.5 games out of the Wild Card spot. Unfortunately, the road ahead makes achieving that feat near impossible. The D-Backs have consecutive matchups against the Phillies, Dodgers and Padres to close the season, offering little optimism for a postseason push.

Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants

Technically, both the Reds and Giants still have a shot at a Wild Card spot. Anything’s possible, especially with each sitting just two games back, but it’s hard to picture either .500 team making it.

The Reds are 17 games back in the NL Central, where the Brewers and Cubs have already punched their tickets. Closing matchups against the Cubs and Brewers significantly dim October hopes. The Giants sit fourth in the NL West behind the Dodgers and Padres, with the Diamondbacks also vying for a Wild Card spot. San Francisco finishes the season with series against the Rockies, Cardinals and a tough four-game set versus the Dodgers. A postseason berth would take a miracle – but in baseball, miracles can happen.