TheÃÂ 2026 postseasonÃÂ is approaching. As you keep an eye on theÃÂ 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 Tuesday. (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), Cubs (Wild Card), Phillies (Wild Card), Padres (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.
WHO HAS CLINCHED A PLAYOFF SPOT?ÃÂ
The Rays, Brewers, Dodgers and Yankees have all clinched a postseason spot. (No team has clinched its division yet.)
WHAT ARE THE TIGHTEST RACES?
AL Central: White Sox lead Guardians by 1.5 games
AL West: Astros lead Rangers by 1 game
AL Wild Card: Guardians lead Blue Jays by 1 game for final berth
NL Wild Card: Padres lead D-backs by 2.5 games for final berth
AL East: Rays lead Yankees by 3.5 games
WHO CAN CLINCH TODAY?
The Brewers can clinch the NL Central today with a win against the Pirates AND a loss by the Cubs vs. the Braves.
WHAT ARE TODAY'S KEY GAMES?
White Sox at Guardians, 6:40 p.m. ET | Get tickets
Braves at Cubs, 7:40 p.m. ET | Get tickets
Red Sox at Rangers, 8:05 p.m. ET | Get tickets
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).
AL EAST
Rays (1st in AL East; 3.5 games ahead of NYY)ÃÂ
- Win tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Yankees (6-3; 4 games left), Red Sox (5-5; 3 games left)
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; 5 games ahead of BOS)
- Win tiebreaker vs.:ÃÂ Red Sox, White Sox
- Lose tiebreaker vs.:ÃÂ N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.:ÃÂ Rays (3-6; 4 games left)
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; 6.5 games ahead of CLE)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: White Sox, Orioles
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Yankees, Astros, Blue Jays
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Rays (5-5; 3 games left), Guardians (2-1; 3 games left), Rangers (2-1; 3 games left)
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)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Guardians, Mariners
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Rangers, Twins, White Sox
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Astros (3-3), Orioles (6-4; 3 games left)
The Blue Jays earned a key head-to-head tiebreaker over the Guardians with a win on Sept. 3.
Orioles (3 games behind CLE for 3rd AL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs.:ÃÂ Astros,ÃÂ White Sox
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Mariners, Rangers, Red Sox, Guardians
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Blue Jays (4-6; 3 games left), Twins (3-3)
The Orioles still have multiple key tiebreakers to be decided in September, including their tiebreaker against the Twins, which will be determined by division record.
AL CENTRAL
White Sox (1st in AL Central; 1.5 games ahead of CLE)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Blue Jays, Guardians, Rangers
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Orioles, Red Sox, Astros
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: N/A
With a win over Cleveland on Monday, the White Sox secured a crucial tiebreaker over the Guardians.
Guardians (3rd in AL Wild Card; 1 game ahead of TOR)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Mariners, Orioles
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Astros, Blue Jays, Rangers, Twins, White Sox
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Red Sox (1-2; 3 games left)
The Guardians would lose tiebreakers against the Blue Jays and Rangers, their closest competition in the Wild Card race. They would also lose a tiebreaker against the White Sox if the two clubs finished tied atop the AL Central.
Tigers (4.5 games behind CLE for 3rd AL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs. Mariners, Rangers
- Lose tiebreaker vs. Guardians, Orioles
- Tiebreaker TBD vs. Blue Jays (1-2; 3 games left), Twins (2-6; 5 games left)
The Tigers have secured a tiebreaker against one of the clubs theyâÂÂre chasing -- the Rangers -- but theyâÂÂd have to win all of their final five games against the Twins to pick up the tiebreaker.
AL WEST
Astros (1st in AL West; 1 game ahead of TEX)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Guardians, Rangers, White Sox
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Mariners, Orioles, Twins
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Blue Jays (3-3)
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)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Blue Jays, Guardians, Mariners, OriolesÃÂ
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Astros, White Sox
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.:ÃÂ Twins (0-3; 3 games left)
The Rangers are in great shape among AL Wild Card contenders, although they would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker to the Astros.
NL EAST
Braves (1st in NL East; 4.5 games ahead of PHI)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Dodgers, Phillies
- Lose tiebreaker vs.:ÃÂ N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Brewers (3-3), Cubs (2-2; 2 games left)
The Braves' comeback win over the Phillies last Sunday gave them the head-to-head tiebreaker against their division rivals.
Phillies (2nd in NL Wild Card; 0.5 games behind CHC)
- Win tiebreaker vs.:ÃÂ Padres
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Braves, Cubs, Dodgers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: D-backs (3-3)
The Phillies do not hold head-to-head tiebreakers against the Cubs -- their closest competitors for the top NL Wild Card spot -- or Braves.
NL CENTRAL
Brewers (1st in NL Central; 9.5 games ahead of CHC)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: DodgersÃÂ
- Lose tiebreaker vs.:ÃÂ N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.:ÃÂ Braves (3-3)
If the Brewers and Braves end the regular season tied, the higher seed will go to the club with the better division record.
Cubs (1st in NL Wild Card; 0.5 games ahead of PHI)
- Win tiebreaker vs.:ÃÂ D-backs, Padres, Phillies
- Lose tiebreaker vs.:ÃÂ N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Braves (2-2; 2 games left)
The Cubs are in excellent shape here and could secure all relevant tiebreakers with a sweep of the Braves during their current three-game series at Wrigley Field.
NL WEST
Dodgers (1st in NL West; 9 games ahead of SD)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: PhilliesÃÂ
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Braves, Brewers, Cubs, D-backs
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.:ÃÂ N/A
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.
Padres (3rd NL Wild Card, 2.5 games ahead of AZ)
- Win tiebreaker vs.:ÃÂ N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: D-backs (5-5; 3 games left)
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).
D-backs (2.5 games behind SD for 3rd NL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Cardinals, Dodgers
- Lose tiebreaker vs.:ÃÂ Cubs
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.:ÃÂ Padres (5-5; 3 games left), Phillies (3-3)
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.