MLB Playoff Clinching Scenarios: Yankees, Red Sox Are In With Wins
Getty Images. Pictured: Boston’s Ryan Braiser and New York’s Aaron Judge.
- The Yankees lost on Saturday, while the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Mariners all won.
- That result created more chaos as the AL wild-card race will likely come down to tiebreakers.
- The NL West title will also come down to the wire thanks to a Giants loss and Dodgers win on Saturday.
- Continue reading for all the clinching scenarios on the final day of the MLB regular season.
We've reached the final few days of the MLB season and there's still much to be determined in the postseason race.
We'll keep you updated in potential clinching scenarios in every race for the few, final playoff spots as the season winds down to the regular-season finale on Sunday.
Still Up For Grabs
AL Wild Card
Boston Red Sox (91-70): Tied with Yankees for top spot in AL wild-card race. Would host AL Wild Card Game with a win.
Next Game: Sunday at Washington, 3:05 p.m. ET
New York Yankees (91-70): Tied with Red Sox for top spot in AL wild-card race. Can clinch one of the two spots with a win.
Next Game: Sunday vs. Tampa Bay, 3:05 p.m. ET
Seattle Mariners (90-71): One game behind Red Sox and Yankees in AL wild-card race. Need a win and loss by Yankees OR Red Sox to force a tiebreaker.
Next Game: Sunday vs. Los Angeles Angels, 3:10 p.m. ET
Toronto Blue Jays (90-71): One game behind Red Sox and Yankees in AL wild-card race. Need a win and loss by Yankees OR Red Sox to force a tiebreaker.
Next Game: Sunday vs. Baltimore, 3:07 p.m. ET
NL West
San Francisco Giants (106-55): Have one-game advantage over Los Angeles for NL West. Can clinch division with a win OR Dodgers loss. If the Giants lose and Dodgers win, teams will play a Game 163 on Monday to determine NL West champion.
Next Game: Sunday vs. San Diego, 3:05 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Dodgers (105-56): Trails San Francisco by one games in NL West. Will host NL Wild Card Game with loss OR Giants win. A win and Giants loss would force a Game 163 on Monday to determine NL West champion.
Next Game: Sunday vs. Milwaukee, 3:10 p.m. ET
Spots Clinched
AL East
Tampa Bay Rays: Have clinched AL East title.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox: Have clinched AL Central title.
AL West
Houston Astros: Have clinched AL West title.
NL East
Atlanta Braves: Have clinched NL East title.
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers: Have clinched NL Central title.
NL Wild Card
San Francisco Giants: Have clinched playoff berth. Will host NL Wild Card Game if they do not win NL West.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Have clinched playoff berth. Will host NL Wild Card Game if they do not win NL West.
St. Louis Cardinals: Have clinched playoff berth. Will be second NL wild-card team and will play either the Giants or Dodgers in NL Wild Card Game.
Seeding
American League
Tampa Bay Rays (100-61): Have clinched No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout American League playoffs.
Houston Astros (94-67): Have clinched No. 2 seed and will have home-field advantage in ALDS against White Sox.
Chicago White Sox (93-68): Will be No. 3 seed and start ALDS on the road against Houston.
For more on seeding scenarios involving the AL wild-card race, read below:
National League
San Francisco Giants (106-55): Will be No. 1 seed and have home-field advantage throughout playoffs if they win the NL West. Otherwise will host NL Wild Card Game.
Los Angeles Dodgers (105-56): Will be No. 1 seed and have home-field advantage throughout playoffs if they win the NL West. Otherwise will host NL Wild Card Game.
Milwaukee Brewers (95-66): Have clinched No. 2 seed and will have home-field advantage in NLDS against Atlanta Braves.
Atlanta Braves (87-73): Will be No. 3 seed and start on the road in NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers.
St. Louis Cardinals (90-71): Will be the second wild-card team and play at the loser of the NL West race in the NL Wild Card Game.
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