The 2026 postseason race is approaching its decisive stage. As teams battle for playoff position, the standings will determine the field, potential tiebreakers and the clinching scenarios for each contender.
Who is in playoff position?
Here is how the postseason field is shaping up entering Tuesday, with teams listed by seeding:
- American League playoff teams: Rays (AL East), White Sox (AL Central), Astros (AL West), Yankees (Wild Card), Red Sox (Wild Card) and Guardians (Wild Card)
- National League playoff teams: Brewers (NL Central), Dodgers (NL West), Braves (NL East), Cubs (Wild Card), Phillies (Wild Card) and Padres (Wild Card)
For the full playoff bracket, see the top of this page.
Each best-of-three Wild Card Series is scheduled to begin on Sept. 29. The best-of-five Division Series are scheduled to start on Oct. 3.
What are the tightest playoff races?
- AL Wild Card: Guardians lead the Orioles by 0.5 games for the final berth
- NL Wild Card: Padres lead the D-backs by 0.5 games for the final berth
- AL West: Astros lead the Rangers by two games
- AL Central: White Sox lead the Guardians by three games
Who owns the playoff tiebreakers?
Since 2022, all MLB playoff tiebreakers have been determined mathematically rather than through tiebreaker games. Ties for division titles, postseason berths and playoff seeding are decided first by head-to-head record between the teams during the regular season, with additional tiebreakers used when necessary.
MLB.com is tracking the relevant tiebreaker scenarios for contenders, defined here as teams within five games of a playoff spot.
American League
Rays (first in AL East; 4.5 games ahead of NYY): The Yankees might be the only team within striking distance of the Rays in the standings. Tampa Bay would hold the tiebreaker over New York unless the Yankees sweep all four games in the Bronx from Sept. 22-24.
Yankees (first in AL Wild Card; three games ahead of BOS): By taking three of four games from Boston from Aug. 28-30, the Yankees secured the tiebreaker against their longtime rival.
Red Sox (second in AL Wild Card; 5.5 games ahead of CLE): If Boston fades down the stretch and finishes tied for the final Wild Card spot, its remaining games against Cleveland and Baltimore could become significant.
Orioles (0.5 games behind CLE for third AL Wild Card): Baltimore still has several important tiebreakers to settle in September, including its tiebreaker against the Twins, which will be determined by division record.
Blue Jays (1.5 games behind CLE for third AL Wild Card): Toronto’s series against the Guardians from Tuesday through Thursday in Cleveland could help the Blue Jays close the gap and determine a key tiebreaker.
White Sox (first in AL Central; three games ahead of CLE): Chicago needs one win in its final series against Cleveland from Sept. 14-16 to secure a critical tiebreaker against its division rival.
Guardians (third in AL Wild Card; 0.5 games ahead of BAL): Most of Cleveland’s key tiebreakers remain undecided, but the Guardians have secured the tiebreaker against Seattle if the teams finish tied for a Wild Card spot.
Twins (3.5 games behind CLE for third AL Wild Card): Any tiebreaker between Minnesota and Baltimore for a Wild Card spot would be decided by intradivisional record.
Astros (first in AL West; two games ahead of TEX): Houston would win the tiebreaker against Texas if the teams finish tied atop the AL West.
Rangers (1.5 games behind CLE for third AL Wild Card): Texas is in strong position among AL Wild Card contenders, although the Rangers would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker to the Astros.
National League
Braves (first in NL East; four games ahead of PHI): Atlanta has already secured the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Dodgers. The Braves need two wins in their final seven games against the Phillies to secure another important tiebreaker.
Phillies (tied for first in NL Wild Card; five games ahead of SD): Philadelphia does not hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Cubs, its closest competitor for the top NL Wild Card position.
Marlins (four games behind SD for third NL Wild Card): Consecutive road series in Arizona from Sept. 14-16 and San Diego from Sept. 18-20 will be crucial to Miami’s postseason hopes.
Brewers (first in NL Central; seven games ahead of CHC): If Milwaukee and Atlanta finish the regular season tied, the higher seed will go to the team with the better division record.
Cubs (tied for first in NL Wild Card; five games ahead of SD): Chicago is in excellent position and could secure all relevant tiebreakers by sweeping the Braves during their Sept. 14-16 series at Wrigley Field.
Cardinals (five games behind SD for third NL Wild Card): St. Louis remains on the edge of the playoff race. The Cardinals would win a head-to-head tiebreaker against San Diego but would lose one to Arizona or Miami.
Dodgers (first in NL West; 9.5 games ahead of SD): Los Angeles has lost head-to-head tiebreakers against both the Braves and Brewers, which could become important in the race for a first-round postseason bye.
Padres (third in NL Wild Card; 0.5 games ahead of AZ): San Diego currently does not hold any postseason tiebreakers. The Padres can secure two by winning one of three games against Miami from Sept. 18-20 or by winning their series against Arizona from Sept. 25-27.
D-backs (0.5 games behind SD for third NL Wild Card): Arizona will finish the regular season against San Diego at Petco Park. The pivotal series will determine the clubs’ head-to-head tiebreaker and could decide a playoff spot.
Source: www.mlb.com
