MLB playoffs 2024 tracker: Standings, standings, tiebreakers and postseason schedule as of September 20

The MLB postseason is just around the corner. And with less than two weeks left in the regular season, every team with World Series aspirations still has a lot to play for.

Let’s break down the MLB standings and playoff picture as it stands today.

Who won the playoffs?

The Brewers clinched the NL Central title on Wednesday but have yet to earn their playoff seed. The Chicago Cubs’ 5-3 loss to the Oakland A’s vindicated the Brewers.

Also on Wednesday, the Yankees clinched the AL’s first postseason berth with their 2-1 victory over the Mariners in extra innings. The Yankees haven’t clinched the AL East division title or their postseason seed.

On Thursday, the Rangers punched their ticket to October with a 3-2 walk-off victory against the Twins in the 10th inning. They haven’t clinched the AL Central title or their postseason seed.

Also Thursday, the Dodgers won their 12th straight postseason appearance with a 20-4 (yes, 20-4) victory over the Marlins. Ohtani delivered a historic performance to seal the first 50-50 season in MLB history. The Dodgers have yet to clinch the NL West division title or their postseason seed.

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Who can follow?

The Phillies and Orioles each have at least a 99% chance of reaching the postseason, according to FanGraphs. The Astros, Royals and Padres are above 90%. The Diamondbacks, Twins and Mets are in the postseason but still have a ways to go.

After clinching their season spots statistically, the Phillies, Dodgers, Guardians, Astros and Yankees are in position to win their divisions, assuming they have the lead. The Phillies, Dodgers, Yankees and Guardians are in line to cash in on the wild card rotation.

What is still up for grabs?

Once a team earns its ticket to the postseason, there is still a lot to play for. Most of the teams are comfortable, but the teams may fight for the position of the games until the last weekend of the season.

The number 1 and 2 seeds in each league will go to the group winners with the two best records. Those teams get a chance at the wild card game and the rights to host the series.

The No. 1 seed 3 seed will go to the winner of the third seed, and that seed will host a three-game wild card series against the No. 1 seed. 6 (will go to the third wild card). The top wild card team will receive the No. 1 seed. 4 and host jobs against the 5 seed in the wild card game.

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

What would the playoff bracket look like if the season ended today?

American League

Wild card: No. 6 Minnesota Twins vs. No. 3 Houston Astros

ALDS: Wild card winner vs. No. 2 Cleveland Guardians

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

ALDS: Wild card winner vs. No. 1 New York Yankees

Social Covenant

Wild card: No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks vs. No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers

NLDS: Wild card winner vs. No. 2 Los Angeles Dodgers

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

NLDS: Wild card winner vs. No. 1 Philadelphia Phillies

What are the tiebreakers?

Teams no longer play Game 163 if they finish the season tied. Instead, tiebreakers are determined by head-to-head records first and, if necessary, intradivision records second.

Here are the possible tiebreakers:

• The Yankees won the tiebreaker against the Rangers.

• The Rangers won the shutout against the Orioles.

• The Phillies won the shutout against the Dodgers.

• The Mets won back-to-back series against the Padres and Diamondbacks.

• The Orioles hold the tiebreaker against the Yankees with three games left to play.

• The D-backs hold the tiebreaker against the Padres, with three games left to play.

• The Mets hold a playoff spot against the Braves, with three games left to play.

Read more: 2024 MLB offseason previews: What’s next for the White Sox, Nationals, A’s and more??

What is the schedule of wild-card games and teams?

A series of wild cards

Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 1
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 2
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 3*

Groups of groups

ALDS

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

NLDS

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

(*if necessary)