2023 MLB playoff picture, standings, projections: Rangers sweep Blue Jays, Rays narrow AL East gap vs. Orioles
There are barely two weeks remaining in the 2023 Major League Baseball regular season, and the MLB playoff picture will be set by Oct. 1. The MLB-leading Atlanta Braves clinched their sixth straight division title on Wednesday night with a win over the Phillies, and they wrapped up the NL East before any other team even clinched a playoff berth. More teams will have champagne showers to celebrate division titles in the coming days. The Dodgers and Twins have all but officially sewn up their respective divisions, while the Orioles, Astros and Brewers hoping to stay in first place over the next two-plus weeks.
The wild-card races figure to add the most drama about who will make the 12-team postseason field. The Rays have created a lot of separation between the pack and will be locked into the No. 4 seed in the American League if they can't track down the Orioles in the AL East, although a four-game weekend series in Baltimore could do a lot of damage. It's a three-team fight for other two AL wild-card spots with the Blue Jays, Rangers and Mariners battling. The Rangers have seemingly snapped out of their funk and have won six games in a row to get back in the field.
The NL wild-card chase features an even more crowded field. There are six teams fighting for three spots, and they are separated by 4.5 games. The Phillies have had their grasp on the top wild-card spot for weeks, but have had a shaky start to September. The Cubs are currently the NL's No. 5 seed, while the Diamondbacks, Reds, Marlins and Giants have nearly identical records.
The 2023 MLB playoff picture is also notable for who is not in it. The Yankees, Mets, Padres and Cardinals -- all playoff teams in 2022 and expected contenders in 2023 -- have had disappointing years that will end with the regular season. The Angels saw their playoff hopes dashed in a dismal August. The Halos crashed out of the race while learning Shohei Ohtani will not pitch again this season with a torn UCL in his right elbow.
As a reminder, MLB now uses a 12-team playoff format with the three division winners and three wild card teams in both leagues qualifying for the postseason. The two division winners with the best records in each league get byes to the League Division Series round, while the other eight teams square off in a best-of-three Wild Card Series.
Who's clinched?
Here's a look at the MLB standings and playoff picture for the 12-team postseason as of this morning. All division and postseason odds are and you can .
2023 MLB playoff picture
American League
Byes
- No. 1 Orioles and No. 2 Astros
Wild Card Series
- No. 3 Twins vs. No. 6 Mariners
- No. 4 Rays vs. No. 5 Rangers
National League
Byes
- No. 1 Braves and No. 2 Dodgers
Wild Card Series
- No. 3 Brewers vs. No. 6 Giants
- No. 4 Phillies vs. No. 5 Cubs
