MLB playoff picture: What's at stake heading into final stretch of the season
The 2021 Major League Baseball campaign is in the final stretch of the regular season with the playoff field beginning to take form.
The divisional races have all but been wrapped up except for the National League East and West, where the two best teams in baseball – the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers – battle for the top spot.
The postseason setup returns to the 10-team format after 16 teams were allowed after the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Seeds 1-3 go to the division winners, in order of record. Seeds 4-5 go to the wild card winners with the two best remaining records.
Here's a look at the current playoff picture, starting with the teams that have already booked their postseason tickets as of Sept. 22.
Who has clinched a playoff spot
Giants, Dodgers, Brewers, Rays.
Who is next
The White Sox can clinch the AL Central with a win over the Indians on Thursday.
Division leaders
American League: Rays, White Sox, Astros
National League: Braves, Brewers, Giants
If the season ended today
AL Wild Card Game: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays (Oct. 5)
NL Wild Card Game: Dodgers vs. Cardinals (Oct. 6)
ALDS: Astros vs. White Sox (Oct. 7)
ALDS: Rays vs. wild card game winner (Oct. 7)
NLDS: Brewers vs. Braves (Oct. 8)
NLDS: Giants vs. wild card game winner (Oct. 8)
AL wild card race
Red Sox (88-65) +2 (96.1% chance of making playoffs, per ESPN)
Yankees (86-67) -- (49.3%)
Blue Jays (85-67) 0.5 (51.7%)
Mariners (83-69) 2.5 (2.1%)
Athletics (82-70) 3.5 (0.6%)
NL wild card race
Dodgers* (97-55) +14.5 (100%)
Cardinals (82-69) -- (94.3%)
Reds (78-74) 4.5 (3.3%)
Phillies (78-74) 4.5 (16.5%)
Padres (76-75) 6.0 (0.3%)
*Clinched a playoff berth
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB standings, playoffs: What's at stake heading into final stretch
