Entering play on Sunday, here’s where every contending team stands with eight days remaining in the regular season.
Who’s in?
Tickets already punched: Brewers, Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers
The Brewers, who are one shy of matching their single-season record for most wins, need just one more victory or a Cubs loss to clinch the NL Central. It would be their third straight division title and their fourth in the last five years. They’ve also secured a first-round bye, with a three-game lead over the Phillies to secure the No. 1 seed in the NL.
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Who’s next?
On the brink of clinching a playoff spot: Blue Jays, Yankees, Padres
The Blue Jays remain the closest team to clinching a postseason spot, needing just one more win. They also remain in the driver’s seat to win the AL East.
AL East Team W-L Win% GB Strk L10 Blue Jays 89-66 0.574 — L4 6-4 Yankees 87-68 0.561 2 W1 7-3 Red Sox 85-70 0.548 4 W2 5-5
Who’s locked in a race?
It’s gonna be interesting: Mets, Reds, Diamondbacks, Guardians, Tigers, Mariners, Astros, Red Sox
If you like collapses, you’ll love the Tigers. On Aug.23, Detroit beat Kansas City to push its lead in the AL Central to 11 1/2 games. Since then, the Tigers have gone 7-17 for the third-worst record in the majors in that span, and their lead in the division has dwindled to just one game over the hard-charging Guardians.
AL Central Team W-L Win% GB Strk L10 Tigers 85-70 0.548 — L5 2-8 Guardians 84-71 0.542 1 W10 10-0 Royals 78-77 0.503 7 W2 5-5
The Mets absorbed a gut punch on Saturday, losing to the Nationals in 11 innings. It didn’t help that the Reds and Diamondbacks took care of business. Winners of four straight, the Reds stand just one game behind the Mets for the final NL wild card. The Diamondbacks lurk just one behind Cincinnati. Both the Reds and Diamondbacks hold the tiebreaker over the Mets.
NL wild card Team W-L Win% GB Strk L10 Cubs 88-67 0.568 +8 L3 6-4 Padres 84-71 0.542 +4 W1 5-5 Mets 80-75 0.516 — L1 4-6 Reds 79-76 0.510 1 W4 6-4 Diamondbacks 78-77 0.503 2 W1 6-4
Victor Robles made a spectacular catch to put an exclamation point on a critical Mariners win over the Astros. After being in control of the division for much of the season, the Astros now face a sobering reality. If the season ended today, they would be out of the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
If the playoffs started today
American League
Toronto and Seattle would receive first-round byes after finishing as the AL’s No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. Toronto would also have home-field advantage through the ALCS for finishing with the league’s best record.
AL Wild Card Series: No. 6 Guardians at No. 3 Tigers; No. 5 Red Sox at No. 4 Yankees
ALDS: Yankees/Red Sox vs. Blue Jays; Tigers/Guardians vs. Mariners
National League
The Brewers and Phillies would enter as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively, both receiving first-round byes. Should the Brewers make it to the World Series, they’d maintain home-field advantage due to ending with the sport’s best record.
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NL Wild Card Series: No. 6 Mets at No. 3 Dodgers; No. 5 Padres at No. 4 Cubs
NLDS: Dodgers/Mets vs. Phillies, Cubs/Padres vs. Brewers
What to watch Sunday
Mariners at Astros: The Mariners ensured they will leave Houston in the driver’s seat of the AL West. Another win would secure a series sweep and help Seattle’s effort to snag a bye.
AL West Team W-L Win% GB Strk L10 Mariners 86-69 0.555 — W3 9-1 Astros 84-71 0.542 2 L2 6-4 Rangers 79-76 0.510 7 L6 4-6
Guardians at Twins: Cleveland swept a doubleheader on Saturday, pushing its season-saving winning streak to 10. Can the Guardians make it 11? They have pulled within a game of the Red Sox for the second AL wild card. Boston holds the tiebreaker.
AL wild card Team W-L Win% GB Strk L10 Yankees 87-68 0.561 +3 W1 7-3 Red Sox 85-70 0.548 +1 W2 5-5 Guardians 84-71 0.542 — W10 10-0 Astros 84-71 0.542 — L2 6-4 Rangers 79-76 0.510 5 L6 4-6
Cubs at Reds: On Sept. 5, Cincinnati fell six games back of the last wild card. In the last two weeks, the Reds have closed that gap to one.
(Photo of Jose Altuve: Troy Taormina / Imagn Images)