MLB Playoff Picture: Biggest Races to Watch on Final Weekend

Some of the suspense over the jockeying for playoff positions dissipated Thursday when four teams clinched major league postseason spots.

But there’s still the hold-your-nose situation in the American League West to entertain everyone over the final weekend of the baseball season.

The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers are both 79-80 entering Friday’s play and the team that ends up being last standing could be the first division champion of the Division Era (since 1969) to win the crown with a below-.500 record.

Even if one of those two teams wins all three games this weekend, they would still match the 2005 San Diego Padres (82-80) for the worst record by a division winner.

Of course, the whole mantra is to just get into the postseason. The Rangers displayed that in 2023 when they were the No. 5 seed in the AL and went on to win the World Series. Oh yeah, they beat the National League No. 6 seed Arizona Diamondbacks in the Fall Classic.

The Diamondbacks are two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the final NL wild-card spot. Arizona has won five straight games while the Phillies lost eight of their past 13 games.

The AL Central winner also hasn’t been determined. The loser of that fight between the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox will grab the No. 3 wild-card spot in the AL. Both the Guardians and White Sox clinched postseason berths Thursday while the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres clinched spots in the NL.

The NL teams that previously clinched spots are the Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central), Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West) and Atlanta Braves (NL East). The other AL teams who have secured berths are the Tampa Bay Rays (AL East), New York Yankees (first AL wild card) and Boston Red Sox (probable second AL wild card).

Remaining games likely to impact MLB playoff positioning:

Houston Astros at Athletics

What we know: Some outfielder named Lucas Spence saved Houston with his first three career homers in Thursday’s win. He was recalled solely due to injures to Brice Matthews and Daulton Varsho and earned his per diem in his second game since returning to the Astros.

What we'll find out: Houston holds the tiebreaker edge so it only needs to match the Rangers to earn their ninth playoff berth in the past 10 seasons. The Athletics can’t see the playoffs from West Sacramento, Calif., but surely hope 2028 in Las Vegas is possible.

Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins

What we know: Texas needs to win at least one more game than the Astros to win the AL West. The Rangers rattled off six wins in seven games before losing three straight. They snapped that skid by beating the New York Mets on Thursday and need to avoid a weekend of setbacks.

What we'll find out: The Rangers lost three of their final four regular-season games in 2023 and still got into the postseason. Lose more than they win this time and they can plan on viewing baseball from their TV sets and phones. Minnesota is not part of the postseason for the fifth time in six seasons.

Cleveland Guardians at Kansas City Royals

What we know: The Guardians have become a hot squad and have won seven of their last eight after clinching a playoff against the Red Sox on Thursday. The bats are cold though as Cleveland has scored just five runs over the past four games, winning twice by 1-0 and losing once by the same score.

What we'll find out: The next task is taking advantage of a team with nothing to play for while looking to win the division and land the No. 2 seed. The Royals have made the playoffs just once since winning the 2015 World Series. All hail World Series MVP Salvador Perez.

Colorado Rockies at Chicago White Sox

What we know: The White Sox were horrible with 101, 121 and 102 losses the past three seasons before rising up and clinching their first playoff spot since 2021. Also, how did Miguel Vargas become an offensive force with 33 homers and 92 RBIs?

What we'll find out: Chicago holds the tiebreaker advantage over Cleveland and can win the division by thriving in the mile-high air. The Rockies are owners of four straight 100-loss campaigns and missed the playoffs for the eighth straight season but surely will show up in an attempt to be spoilers.

Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres

What we know: The Diamondbacks will be in all-out mode to chase down the Phillies and hoping San Diego will rest some regulars after clinching its fifth postseason berth in the past seven seasons. Arizona has seen the Nolan Arenado (29 homers) of old and it’s a good fit.

What we'll find out: Arizona badly needs a win Friday to keep the heat on the sinking Phillies. Watch how the Padres go all out to claim the No. 4 seed in anticipation of hosting the Cubs in the wild-card round. Chicago won the wild-card series 2-1 last season over San Diego and then went 5-1 against the Padres this season while scoring a staggering 55 runs.

Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies

What we know: Tampa Bay has wrapped up the best record in the AL and will have homefield advantage should it reach the AL Championship Series. Philadelphia needs to play better immediately because the Diamondbacks hold the tiebreaker if the teams finish in a tie.

What we'll find out: Nothing to find out about the Rays other than they are good and Junior Caminero (41 homers) has elite power. More perplexing is why the veteran Phillies have sprung a leak down the stretch and look like a wild-card round exit even if they make the festivities.

Chicago Cubs at Boston Red Sox

What we know: A Nor’easter filled with heavy winds is hitting town and the teams are scheduled to play twice Friday, once on Saturday and not at all Sunday. The games are more important for the Cubs in terms of playoff positioning.

What we'll find out: Chicago is competing with San Diego and perhaps Philadelphia for the No. 4 spot in the NL and home-field advantage in the wild-card round. The Red Sox need one win to sew up the AL’s No. 2 wild-card. Both teams are hoping to get all three games in by Saturday night.