As the final week of the 2024 MLB regular season plays out, a few teams are already looking to October.
The NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers clinched the season’s first playoff spot while the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres have since joined them. In the American League, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians have clinched playoff spots, as have the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros.
Beyond division races, there are many storylines to watch as the regular season comes to an end.
Where do the current playoff matchups stand? What games should you be paying attention to today? Who will be the first team to clinch a postseason berth? And what does the playoff schedule look like? We have everything you need to know as the regular season hits the homestretch.
Key links: Full MLB standings | Wild-card standings | Predictions
Who is in?
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers clinched the season’s first playoff spot, when they secured the NL Central crown for the third time in four seasons.
New York Yankees
The Yankees clinched a playoff spot on Wednesday night with a win against the Seattle Mariners and hold a comfortable lead in the AL East race.
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday and followed by clinching the AL Central crown.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers clinched a playoff spot with their 20-4 blowout win over the Marlins and are closing in on the NL West title.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies clinched their third straight playoff spot with a win over the Mets on Friday night. With a win over the Cubs on Monday, they clinched their first NL East title since 2011.
Houston Astros
The Astros beat the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday to clinch their fourth consecutive AL West division title.
Baltimore Orioles
With a win over the Yankees and the Minnesota Twins’ loss to the Miami Marlins, the Orioles clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday.
San Diego Padres
With a game-ending triple play to seal their win against the Dodgers, the San Diego Padres clinched their spot in the postseason on Tuesday.
Who can clinch next?
In the AL, the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers both have a magic number of six to make the postseason. The Yankees’ magic number to win the AL East is one.
In the NL, the Diamondbacks’ magic number is four, and the New York Mets‘ is five.
What are this October’s MLB playoff matchups as it stands now?
American League
Wild-card round: (6) Tigers at (3) Astros*, (5) Royals at (4) Orioles*
ALDS: Tigers/Astros vs. (2) Guardians*, Royals/Orioles vs. (1) Yankees*
National League
Wild-card round: (6) D-backs at (3) Brewers*, (5) Mets at (4) Padres*
NLDS: D-backs/Brewers vs. (2) Phillies*, Mets/Padres vs. (1) Dodgers*
* — Clinched playoff spot
Tiebreakers
If L.A. and Philadelphia tie for best record, the Phillies would get the top seed because of a better head-to-head record against the Dodgers this season.
If Cleveland and New York tie for the AL’s best record, the Yankees would get the top seed because they won the head-to-head season series.
The Orioles hold the AL East tiebreaker because they beat the Yankees in the head-to-head season series (7-4, with two games remaining).
If Atlanta and New York tie, the Braves currently hold the tiebreaker by virtue of a 6-5 edge in the head-to-head season series (with two games remaining).
If Minnesota and Detroit tie, the Twins hold the tiebreaker because they won the head-to-head season series.
In the event of a two-team tie involving the D-backs for the NL’s final playoff spot, the Mets and Braves both hold the tiebreaker because they won the season series.
Breaking down the AL race
The Yankees have taken the lead on the Orioles (both teams have clinched playoff berths) in a battle for the AL East crown while the Guardians have both clinched division titles. The Detroit Tigers have surged into contention and are in a tight race with the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals for the league’s final playoff spots.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Breaking down the NL race
Four teams have separated themselves atop the NL standings with the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks battling for the final playoff spots. The Brewers have clinched the NL Central crown and the Phillies cruised to a division title in the NL East. The Dodgers are trying to hold off the Padres the NL West race, with both teams already having clinched postseason field.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Game of the day
Looking for something to watch today? Here’s the baseball game with the biggest playoff implications:
Playoff schedule
Wild-card series
Best of three, all games at better seed’s stadium
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 1
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 2
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 3*
Division series
Best of five
ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 7
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 9
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 10*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 12*
NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 11*
League championship series
Best of seven
ALCS
Game 1: Monday, Oct. 14
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 15
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 18
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 19*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 21*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 22*
NLCS
Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 13
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 21*
World Series
Best of seven
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 25
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 30*
Game 6: Friday, Nov. 1*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 2*
Note: If both LCS end by Oct. 19 — meaning neither series lasts longer than five games — the World Series will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 22
* If necessary
