Bracket, tiebreakers and more: Here is the current playoff picture
The 2026 postseason is approaching. As you keep an eye on the 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. (Teams listed in order of seeding.)
AL playoff teams: Rays (AL East), Guardians (AL Central), Rangers (AL West), Yankees (Wild Card), Red Sox (Wild Card), White Sox (Wild Card)
NL playoff teams: Brewers (NL Central), Dodgers (NL West), Braves (NL East), Cubs (Wild Card), Padres (Wild Card), Phillies (Wild Card)
TODAY'S CLINCH SCENARIOS
• The Rays can clinch the AL East and the No. 1 seed in the American League with a win in the second game of a doubleheader at the Yankees.
• The Cubs can clinch a postseason berth with a win vs. Miami OR a loss by the D-backs against the Rockies.
• The Padres can clinch a postseason berth with a win against the Dodgers AND a loss by the D-backs against the Rockies.
• The Brewers can clinch a bye in the Wild Card Series and home-field advantage in the NLDS with a win against the Phillies OR a loss by the Braves against the Reds.
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?
The Rays, Brewers, Dodgers, Yankees, Braves and Red Sox have all clinched a postseason spot. All three NL divisions have been decided: The Brewers clinched the NL Central on Tuesday, the Dodgers won the NL West on Thursday, and the Braves wrapped up the NL East on Sunday. The Red Sox secured an AL Wild Card on Sunday.
WHAT ARE THE TIGHTEST RACES?
NL Wild Card: Cubs, Padres tied for top berth; Phillies 1 game behind
AL West: Rangers lead Astros by 1 game
AL Central: Guardians lead White Sox by 1 game
AL Wild Card: White Sox lead Astros by 3 games for final berth
WHAT ARE TUESDAY'S KEY GAMES?
Brewers at Phillies, 6:40 p.m. ET | Get tickets
Guardians at Red Sox, 6:45 p.m. ET | Get tickets
Marlins at Cubs, 7:40 p.m. ET | Get tickets
Padres at Dodgers, 10:10 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.
Read here for a full explanation.
Below, MLB.com is tracking the progress of relevant tiebreaker scenarios for contenders (defined here as within five games of a playoff spot).
AL: Astros | Blue Jays | Guardians | Orioles | Rangers | Rays | Red Sox | White Sox | Yankees
NL: Braves | Brewers | Cubs | D-backs | Dodgers | Padres | Phillies
AL EAST
Rays (1st in AL East; 6 games ahead of NYY)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Yankees (6-3; 4 games left)
The Yankees are 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; 5.5 games ahead of BOS)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Red Sox
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: 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; 4 games ahead of CWS)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Rangers, White Sox
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Yankees, Astros, Blue Jays
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Guardians (2-1; 3 games left)
The Red Sox are unlikely to catch the Yankees for the top AL Wild Card spot, and New York would win a tiebreaker between the two clubs regardless.
Blue Jays (3.5 games behind CWS for 3rd AL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Guardians
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Rangers, White Sox
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Astros (3-3), Orioles (6-5; 2 games left)
The Blue Jays have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Guardians but would lose out to the White Sox in the case of a tie.
Orioles (4.5 games behind CWS for 3rd AL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Astros, White Sox
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Rangers, Guardians
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Blue Jays (5-6; 2 games left)
The Orioles need to win the final two games of their current three-game series against the Blue Jays to secure a tiebreaker over Toronto.
AL CENTRAL
Guardians (1st in AL Central; 1 game ahead of CWS)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Orioles
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Astros, Blue Jays, Rangers, White Sox
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Red Sox (1-2; 3 games left)
The Guardians would lose tiebreakers against the Blue Jays and Rangers. They would also lose a tiebreaker against the White Sox if the two clubs finish tied atop the AL Central.
White Sox (2nd in AL Central; 1 game behind 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.
AL WEST
Rangers (1st in AL West; 1 game ahead of HOU)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Blue Jays, Guardians, Orioles
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Astros, White Sox
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: N/A
The Rangers are in great shape among AL Wild Card contenders, although they would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker to the Astros if the two clubs finish tied atop the AL West.
Astros (2nd in AL West; 1 game behind TEX)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Guardians, Rangers, White Sox
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Orioles
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Blue Jays (3-3)
With the Astros and Rangers fighting for the AL West, Houston's head-to-head tiebreaker over Texas looms large.
NL EAST
Braves (Clinched NL East)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Dodgers, Phillies
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Brewers (3-3)
Atlanta clinched its seventh NL East title in nine years with a win over Houston.
Phillies (3rd in NL Wild Card; 4 games ahead of AZ)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Padres
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Braves, Cubs
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: D-backs (3-3)
The Phillies lost the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Cubs but do hold the tiebreaker over the Padres, which would give them the No. 2 NL Wild Card spot if the three clubs end up tied.
NL CENTRAL
Brewers (Clinched NL Central)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Dodgers
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: 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; 1 game ahead of PHI)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: D-backs, Padres, Phillies
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: N/A
The Cubs hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Padres, giving them the edge in the Wild Card standings with the two clubs currently tied.
NL WEST
Dodgers (Clinched NL West)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Braves, Brewers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: 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 (2nd in NL Wild Card, 1 game ahead of PHI)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Cubs, Phillies
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: D-backs (5-5; 3 games left)
The Padres lost the season series to both the Cubs and Phillies, so they would be the third NL Wild Card in case of a three-team tie.
D-backs (4 games behind PHI for 3rd NL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Cubs
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: 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 could decide a playoff spot.