September marks the concluding month of the MLB regular season, and the excitement is palpable as teams enter the stretch drive. The playoff races are intensifying, with several teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Houston Astros, vying for their postseason positions.
To clarify, MLB has expanded its playoff format to include 12 teams—six division champions and three wild-card spots in each league. The top two division winners in each league, based on overall records, earn first-round byes, allowing them to skip the best-of-three Wild Card Series.
In terms of standings, the competition is fierce. The Yankees and Orioles are in a close contest for the top spot in the American League East. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins are all in pursuit of the AL Central title, with Cleveland beginning to create some distance. The Dodgers, Phillies, and Astros maintain solid leads in their divisions, yet the competition remains alive. The Milwaukee Brewers have effectively secured the NL Central title, leading the division decisively.
On the wild-card front, the New York Mets have gained ground on the Atlanta Braves, currently holding a one-game advantage for the third NL wild-card position. The San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks are at the top, but their standings are not guaranteed. In the American League, the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Seattle Mariners are striving to remain competitive, all hovering around the .500 mark.
As we approach the final weeks of the regular season, let’s take a closer look at the current status of these playoff races:
2024 MLB playoff picture
If the season ended today…
American League
- Byes: No. 1 Yankees, No. 2 Guardians
- Wild Card Series: No. 3 Astros vs. No. 6 Twins, No. 4 Orioles vs. No. 5 Royals
National League
- Byes: No. 1 Phillies, No. 2 Dodgers
- Wild Card Series: No. 3 Brewers vs. No. 6 Mets, No. 4 Padres vs. No. 5 D-backs
American League standings
National League standings
MLB wild-card standings
2024 World Series odds (As of Sept. 10)
- Dodgers: +320
- Yankees: +500
- Phillies: +500
- Orioles: +700
- Astros: +700
- Guardians: +1400
- Padres: +1400
- Brewers: +1600
- Braves: +1800
- Twins: +2200
- Mets: +2500
- Royals: +2500
- Diamondbacks: +2500
