Matt Vierling #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Here is how the MLB postseason field would look on Friday, Sept. 17.
As the MLB season trudges through the last lap, many teams are vying for a spot in a tightly contested playoff race. The San Francisco Giants (95-52) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (94-53) are currently the only teams who have secured a ticket to the playoffs, while the Rays (91-56), Brewers (89-57),and White Sox (83-63) are expected to soon clinch. The remaining playoff spots remain in the balance.
MLB Playoffs: Bracket if the season were to end on Sept. 13
The NL East currently features the tightest race for a division lead with the Atlanta Braves (76-68) only holding a three-game lead over the Phillies (74-72) and a five-and-a-half game lead over the New York Mets (72-75). While the Braves and Mets have made it to the playoffs in recent years, the Phillies haven’t played any postseason baseball since 2011.
The Phillies and the Mets are currently 8-8 in their season series and will begin their last series tonight to break their deadlock. On the other hand, the Phillies lead the Braves in their season series at 9-7 and can clinch that series with one win when the teams play at the end of the month.
On the opposite side of the conference, while the Giants and Dodgers are a lock for the postseason, they are still deadlocked in their battle for positioning. The Giants hold the tiebreaker but the Dodgers are only two games behind and can overtake first place in the National League if the Giants slow down. Whichever of the two that doesn’t clinch first place has a reserved seat in the Wild Card game.
The last Wild Card spot in the NL is up for grabs with the St. Louis Cardinals (76-69) slightly over the Padres (76-70), Reds (76-71), Phillies and Mets for that spot.
In the American League, the Blue Jays (82-64), Red Sox (83-65) and Yankees (82-65) are in a struggle for the two AL Wild Card spots.
Here is how the National League postseason field would look on Friday, Sept. 17:
- NL Wild Card Game: St. Louis Cardinal at Los Angeles Dodgers
- NL Division Series: Winner of St. Louis Cardinal/Los Angeles Dodgers at (1) San Francisco Giants
- NL Division Series: (3) Atlanta Braves at (2) Milwaukee Brewers
Now here is the American League field:
- AL Wild Card Game: Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays
- AL Division Series: Winner of Boston Red Sox/Toronto Blue Jays at (1) Tampa Bay Rays
- AL Division Series: (3) Chicago White Sox at (2) Houston Astros
Wild Card Hunt:
- AL: Yankees, Athletics, Mariners
- NL: Padres, Reds, Phillies, Mets