MLB playoff picture: Standings updates as teams close in on postseason spots
The Aug. 1 trade deadline represents the official start of MLB’s playoff push. We know the pretenders from the contenders, but nothing has been settled with a little less than two months remaining on the calendar.
As of Monday, Aug. 7, the Atlanta Braves have the strongest hold on a division — a 10 1/2-game lead in the National League East — that doesn’t seem likely to fall. The rest of the second-place teams with MLB are within striking distance of at least 4 1/2 games back.
BUY MLB TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER
The wild card, of course, gives teams hope. Along with the three division winners, there will be three wild-card teams moving on to the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros lead the AL wild-card race, while the New York Yankees, despite their struggles, are 4 1/2 games back. The NL, meanwhile, sees the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies out front, while the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds enter the week tied for the final spot. The New York Mets, well, they are closer to last in the NL than they are first; they are 7 1/2 behind in the NL wild-card race (and 21 behind the Braves).
A reminder on playoff seeding for each league: No. 1 seed and No. 2 seed from each league will get first-round byes to the Division Series. The third-best division winner will play the No. 6 seed, the third best among wild card teams. The No. 4 (best record among wild cards) and No. 5 (second record among wild cards) will play each other.
Want to bet on MLB?
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST * = wild card
Baltimore Orioles, 70-42
*Tampa Bay Rays, 68-46, 3 GB
*Toronto Blue Jays, 63-50, 7.5 GB
New York Yankees, 58-54, 12 GB
Boston Red Sox, 57-54, 12.5 GB
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Minnesota Twins, 59-54
Cleveland Guardians, 54-58, 4.5 GB
Detroit Tigers, 49-62, 9 GB
Chicago White Sox, 45-68, 14 GB
Kansas City Royals, 36-77, 23 GB
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST * = wild card
Texas Rangers, 66-46
*Houston Astros, 64-49, 2.5 GB
Seattle Mariners, 60-52, 6 GB
Los Angeles Angels, 56-57, 10.5 GB
Oakland Athletics, 32-80, 34 GB
###
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST * = wild card
Atlanta Braves, 70-39
*Philadelphia Phillies, 61-51, 10.5 GB
Miami Marlins, 58-55, 14 GB
New York Mets, 50-61, 21 GB
Washington Nationals, 49-63, 22.5 GB
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL * = wild card
Milwaukee Brewers, 60-53
*Chicago Cubs, 58-54, 1.5 GB
Cincinnati Reds, 59-55, 1.5 GB
Pittsburgh Pirates, 50-61, 9 GB
St. Louis Cardinals, 49-64, 11 GB
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST * = wild card
Los Angeles Dodgers, 64-46
*San Francisco Giants, 61-51, 4 GB
Arizona Diamondbacks, 57-56, 8.5 GB
San Diego Padres, 55-57, 10 GB
Colorado Rockies, 44-67, 20.5 GB
###
AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD (10-game cutoff) * = wild card
*Tampa Bay Rays, 68-46, +4.5 GB
*Houston Astros, 64-49, +1 GB
*Toronto Blue Jays, 63-50, --
Seattle Mariners, 60-52, 2.5 GB
New York Yankees, 58-54, 4.5 GB
Boston Red Sox, 57-54, 5 GB
Los Angeles Angeles, 56-57, 7 GB
Cleveland Guardians, 54-58, 8.5 GB
###
NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD (10-game cutoff) * = wild card
*Philadelphia Phillies, 61-51, +3 GB
*San Francisco Giants, 61-51, +3 GB
*Chicago Cubs, 58-54, --
Cincinnati Reds, 59-55, --
Miami Marlins, 58-55, 0.5 GB
Arizona Diamondbacks, 57-56, 1.5 GB
San Diego Padres, 55-57, 3 GB
New York Mets, 50-61, 7.5 GB
Pittsburgh Pirates, 50-61, 7.5 GB
Washington Nationals, 49-63, 9 GB
St. Louis Cardinals, 49-64, 9.5 GB
