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MLB Playoff picture: Who is in, who is out, and who still has a chance in 2024?

With just 40 games left in the 2024 MLB season, we take a look at the full playoff picture in the American and National Leagues.

Jeffrey May
Jeffrey MayJeff_DiarioAS
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Los Angeles (United States), 20/08/2024.- Seattle Mariners' Justin Turner swings at a strike during the eighth inning of the Major League Baseball (MLB) game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, California, USA, 19 August 2024. EFE/EPA/ALLISON DINNER
ALLISON DINNEREFE

The Yankees have taken over the top spot in the American League, edging out the Orioles, and if you blink, you might miss the next shift in this tight race. The season’s winding down, but the drama is just heating up, with teams vying for every inch of advantage as the playoffs loom ever closer.

You look at the standings, and it’s clear that no one’s sitting pretty just yet. Sure, the Phillies are holding onto the top spot in the National League, but they’re not exactly running away with it. The Dodgers and Brewers are breathing down their necks, making sure no lead is too comfortable. It’s been that kind of season—no one’s safe, and every game counts.

In the American League, the Orioles and Yankees are neck and neck, both sitting at 73-52. The Guardians aren’t far behind either, hoping to slip past and grab a first-round bye. It’s a classic AL East dogfight, with the Yankees and Orioles swapping the top spot like a couple of kids playing king of the hill. The Yankees may have the edge for now, but this one’s far from settled.

Over in the National League, it’s a bit of a different story. The Phillies might be on top, but the Dodgers and Brewers are just a hair’s breadth away. The Braves, meanwhile, are trying to climb back into the picture, but they’ve got their work cut out for them. They’ll have to get past the Brewers, who’ve been steady all year, and that’s no small task. And then there’s the Padres and Diamondbacks, who are hanging around the wild-card spots, hoping to make a late push.

The wild card races, particularly in the National League, are where things get really interesting. The Mets, just two games out, have a tough road ahead with series against the Orioles, Padres, and Diamondbacks. Meanwhile, the Giants, 4.5 games back, have a slightly easier path, starting with the White Sox this week. If they can string together a few wins, they might just sneak into the picture.

But let’s not forget about the American League, where the Red Sox and Mariners are within striking distance of a wild card. The Red Sox have shown flashes, and the Mariners are hanging tough, but time’s running out. The top of the AL standings may be a battle between the Yankees and Orioles, but the real drama could be in those final wild-card spots.

Every team apart from the eliminated Chicago White Sox are mathematically in with a shout, however slim, for a wild card spot. Here is the full picture if the season were to end today.

Current MLB Playoff Picture

American League

  1. Baltimore Orioles (73-52), first-round bye
  2. Cleveland Guardians (72-52), first-round bye
  3. Houston Astros (67-56) vs. No. 6 Kansas City Royals (69-59)
  4. New York Yankees (73-52) vs. No. 5 Minnesota Twins (70-54)

National League

  1. Philadelphia Phillies (73-51), first-round bye
  2. Los Angeles Dodgers (73-52), first-round bye
  3. Milwaukee Brewers (72-52) vs. No. 6 Atlanta Braves (66-58)
  4. San Diego Padres (70-55) vs. No. 5 Arizona Diamondbacks (69-56)

Full MLB Standings

American League

AL East

  1. Baltimore Orioles, 73-52 
  2. New York Yankees, 73-52
  3. Boston Red Sox, 65-58
  4. Tampa Bay Rays, 62-61
  5. Toronto Blue Jays, 58-66

AL Central

  1. Cleveland Guardians, 72-52
  2. Minnesota Twins, 70-54
  3. Kansas City Royals, 69-55
  4. Detroit Tigers, 61-64
  5. Chicago White Sox, 30-95

AL West

  1. Houston Astros, 67-56
  2. Seattle Mariners, 64-61
  3. Texas Rangers, 57-68
  4. Los Angeles Angels, 53-71
  5. Oakland Athletics, 53-71

AL Wild Card

  • New York Yankees, 73-52 
  • Minnesota Twins, 70-54
  • Kansas City Royals, 69-55
  • Boston Red Sox, 65-58 (3.5 games back)
  • Seattle Mariners, 64-61 (5.5 games back)
  • Tampa Bay Rays, 62-61 (6.5 games back)

National League

NL East

  1. Philadelphia Phillies, 73-51
  2. Atlanta Braves, 66-58
  3. New York Mets, 64-60
  4. Washington Nationals, 56-69
  5. Miami Marlins, 46-78

NL Central

  1. Milwaukee Brewers, 72-51
  2. St. Louis Cardinals, 61-63
  3. Chicago Cubs, 61-64
  4. Cincinnati Reds, 60-64
  5. Pittsburgh Pirates, 58-65

NL West

  1. Los Angeles Dodgers, 73-52
  2. San Diego Padres, 70-55
  3. Arizona Diamondbacks, 69-56
  4. San Francisco Giants, 63-63
  5. Colorado Rockies, 46-79

NL Wild Card

  • San Diego Padres, 70-55
  • Arizona Diamondbacks, 69-56
  • Atlanta Braves, 66-58
  • New York Mets, 64-60 (2.0 games back)
  • San Francisco Giants, 63-63 (4.0 games back)
  • St. Louis Cardinals, 61-63 (5.0 games back)

As the season heads into its final stretch, the only certainty is that nothing’s certain. The Yankees and Orioles might continue their tug-of-war at the top of the AL East, or maybe the Guardians will surprise everyone. In the National League, the Phillies, Dodgers, and Brewers are locked in a battle that could go down to the wire. And for those wild-card hopefuls, every game is a must-win. Buckle up, because the next few weeks are going to be a wild ride.

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