MLB playoffs 2024 tracker: standings, clinching scenarios, tiebreakers and postseason schedule as of September 27

The MLB postseason is just around the corner. And with just a few days left in the regular season, any team with World Series aspirations still has a lot to play for.

Let’s take a look at the MLB standings and the playoff picture as it stands today.

Who has secured a spot in the play-offs?

The Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers captured the NL West title and a top two seed in the NL bracket, meaning they have a bye through the wild-card round and home field advantage in the NLDS. They are still battling the Phillies for the NL’s top seed and home field advantage throughout the postseason.

The Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies captured the NL East title and a top two seed in the NL bracket, meaning they have a bye through the wild-card round and home field advantage in the NLDS. They still compete with the Dodgers for the NL’s top seed.

The New York Yankees: The Yankees captured the AL East title and a top two seed in the AL bracket, meaning they have a bye through the wild-card round and home field advantage in the ALDS. They still compete with the Guardians for the AL’s top seed.

The Cleveland Guardians: The Guardians captured the AL Central title and a top two seed in the AL bracket, meaning they have a bye through the wild-card round and home field advantage in the ALDS. They still compete with the Yankees for the AL’s top seed.

The Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers were the first team to reach their division, winning the NL Central on September 18. They have secured the No. 3 seed in the NL bracket and will host a wild-card series against the No. 6 seed.

The Houston Astros: The Astros captured the AL West title and the No. 3 seed in the AL seed. They will host a wild-card series against the AL’s No. 6 seed.

The Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles have earned a wild card in the AL bracket. They are in line to become the top wildcard and host a series, but they have not yet secured the No. 4 spot.

The San Diego Padres: The Padres earned a wild card in the NL round. They are in line to become the top wildcard and host a series, but they have not yet secured the No. 4 spot.

The Detroit Tigers: The Tigers earned a wild card in the AL round. They haven’t secured their seed yet, but will likely land at No. 5 or No. 6.

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Who can client next?

According to FanGraphs, the Royals have the postseason in sight, with odds above 95%. The Mets and Diamondbacks are above 50%, but still have a ways to go to reach October.

The Twins and Braves aren’t eliminated yet and are still looking for wild-card spots, though they have work to do and some help to get there.

Seven of the nine teams that clinched their postseason berth are still vying for playoff seeding, either among the division winners or wild cards. Only the Brewers and Astros have their seeds secured.

What’s still up for grabs?

Once a team punches its ticket to the postseason, there is still a lot to play for. Teams can compete for play-off placement during the final weekend of the season.

Numbers 1 and 2 from each competition go to the division winners with the two best records. Those teams earn a bye through the wild-card round and home field advantage in the division series.

The No. 3 seed goes to the winner of the third division, and that team will host a three-game wild card series against the No. 6 seed (who goes to the third wild card). The top wild card team earns the No. 4 seed and hosting duties against the No. 5 seed in the wild card round.

The higher seed will also get home field advantage in the championship series, once we get that far.

What would the play-off round look like if the season ended today?

American League

Wild Card: No. 6 Detroit Tigers* vs. No. 3 Houston Astros*

ALDS: Wildcard winner vs. No. 2 Cleveland Guardians*

Wild Card: No. 5 Kansas City Royals vs. No. 4 Baltimore Orioles*

ALDS: Wildcard winner vs. No. 1 New York Yankees*

National League

Wild Card: No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks vs. No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers*

NLDS: Wildcard winner vs. No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies*

Wild Card: No. 5 New York Mets vs. No. 4 San Diego Padres*

NLDS: Wildcard winner vs. No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers*

(*place in the play-offs)

What are the tiebreaks?

Teams no longer play a Game 163 if they end the season tied. Instead, tiebreaks are determined by head-to-head records first and, if necessary, intra-division records second.

These are the tiebreakers that may come into play:

• The Yankees won the tiebreaker against the Guardians.

• The Phillies have reached the tiebreaker against the Dodgers and Brewers.

• The Twins have reached the tiebreaker against the Tigers and Royals.

• The Royals have reached the tiebreaker against the Tigers.

• The Mets have reached the tiebreaker against the Padres and Diamondbacks.

• The Braves have reached the tiebreaker against the Diamondbacks.

• The D-backs hold the tiebreaker against the Padres with three games remaining.

• The Braves hold the tiebreaker against the Mets with two games remaining.

Read more: 2024 MLB Offseason Previews: What’s Next for the White Sox, Nationals, A’s and More?

What is the schedule for the wild card and division series?

Wildcard series

Game 1: Tuesday, October 1
Game 2: Wednesday, October 2
Game 3: Thursday, October 3*

Division series

ALDS

Game 1: Saturday, October 5
Game 2: Monday October 7
Game 3: Wednesday, October 9
Game 4: Thursday, October 10*
Game 5: Saturday, October 12*

NLDS

Game 1: Saturday, October 5
Game 2: Sunday, October 6
Game 3: Tuesday, October 8
Game 4: Wednesday, October 9*
Game 5: Friday, October 11*

(*if necessary)