The 2026 postseason is approaching. As you keep an eye on the standings, here is everything you need to know about how the playoff field is shaping up, as well as info about potential tiebreakers and clinch scenarios for each contender.
WHO IS IN PLAYOFF POSITION?
Here is a look at how the postseason field is shaping up, entering Wednesday (Teams listed in order of seeding.)
AL playoff teams: Rays (AL East), White Sox (AL Central), Astros (AL West), Yankees (Wild Card), Red Sox (Wild Card), Guardians (Wild Card)
NL playoff teams: Brewers (NL Central), Dodgers (NL West), Braves (NL East), Phillies (Wild Card), Cubs (Wild Card), D-backs (Wild Card)
For a look at the full bracket, see the top of this page.
Each of the best-of-three Wild Card Series is set to begin on Sept. 29, while each of the best-of-five Division Series is set to begin on Oct. 3.
WHAT ARE THE TIGHTEST RACES?
NL Wild Card: Diamondbacks lead Padres by 0.5 games for final berth
AL Wild Card: Guardians lead Blue Jays by 1 game for final berth
AL West: Astros lead Rangers by 2 games
AL Central: White Sox lead Guardians by 2 games
WHAT ARE TODAY’S KEY GAMES?
WHO OWNS THE TIEBREAKERS?
Since 2022, all playoff tiebreakers have been determined mathematically, rather than via tiebreaker games. That means ties for division titles and postseason berths, as well as for seeding, come down first to head-to-head record between those teams during the season, with other tiebreakers available if needed.
Below, MLB.com is tracking the progress of relevant tiebreaker scenarios for contenders (defined here as within five games of a playoff spot).
Rays (1st in AL East; 4 games ahead of NYY)
The Yankees might be the only team within striking distance of the Rays in the standings, and the Rays would hold the tiebreaker over them, barring a four-game sweep in the Bronx from Sept. 22-24.
Yankees (1st in AL Wild Card; 3 games ahead of BOS)
By taking three of four from Boston from Aug. 28-30, the Yankees locked up a tiebreaker against their longtime rival.
Red Sox (2nd in AL Wild Card; 6 games ahead of CLE)
If the Red Sox fade down the stretch and wind up tied for the last Wild Card spot, their remaining games against Cleveland could loom large.
Blue Jays (1 game behind CLE for 3rd AL Wild Card)
The Blue Jays earned a key head-to-head tiebreaker over the Guardians with a win last Thursday.
Orioles (4 games behind CLE for 3rd AL Wild Card)
The Orioles still have several key tiebreakers to be decided in September, including their tiebreaker against the Twins, which will be determined by division record.
White Sox (1st in AL Central; 2 games ahead of CLE)
Chicago needs just one win in its final series against Cleveland from Sept. 14-16 to secure a critical tiebreaker against its division rival.
Guardians (3rd in AL Wild Card; 1 game ahead of TOR)
The Guardians would lose tiebreakers against the Blue Jays and Rangers, their closest competition in the Wild Card race.
Twins (4.5 games behind CLE for 3rd AL Wild Card)
The Twins need just one win against the Guardians from Sept. 11-13 at Target Field to clinch the season series and pick up an important tiebreaker.
Astros (1st in AL West; 2 games ahead of TEX)
Houston would win a tiebreaker against Texas in the case of a tie atop the AL West.
Rangers (1.5 games behind CLE for 3rd AL Wild Card)
The Rangers are in great shape among AL Wild Card contenders, although they would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker to the Astros.
Braves (1st in NL East; 4 games ahead of PHI)
The Braves’ comeback win over the Phillies on Sunday gave them the head-to-head tiebreaker against their division rivals.
Phillies (1st in NL Wild Card; 0.5 games ahead of CHC)
The Phillies do not hold head-to-head tiebreakers against the Cubs — their closest competitors for the top NL Wild Card spot — or Braves.
Brewers (1st in NL Central; 9 games ahead of CHC)
If the Brewers and Braves end the regular season tied, the higher seed will go to the club with the better division record.
Cubs (2nd in NL Wild Card; 0.5 games behind PHI)
The Cubs are in excellent shape here and could secure all relevant tiebreakers with a sweep of the Braves during their Sept. 14-16 series at Wrigley Field.
Dodgers (1st in NL West; 10.5 games ahead of AZ)
The Dodgers have lost head-to-head tiebreakers against both the Braves and Brewers, which could matter in the race for a first-round postseason bye.
D-backs (3rd NL Wild Card; 0.5 games ahead of SD)
The D-backs will wrap up the regular season against the Padres at Petco Park in a pivotal series that will determine the head-to-head tiebreaker between the two clubs and might just decide a playoff spot.
Padres (0.5 games behind AZ for 3rd NL Wild Card)
The Padres haven’t secured any postseason tiebreakers but can pick up two of them if they win one of three games against Miami (Sept. 18-20) or win their series against Arizona (Sept. 25-27).