Four teams clinched a spot in the the 2026 postseason on Thursday.
The White Sox, Cubs, Guardians and Padres secured their place in the playoff field, joining the six other teams who have already locked up a postseason bid.
As you keep an eye on the standings with just three days remaining in the regular season, 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), Astros (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), Padres (Wild Card), Cubs (Wild Card), Phillies (Wild Card)
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, Red Sox, White Sox, Cubs, Guardians and Padres have all clinched a postseason spot. All three NL divisions have been decided: The Brewers clinched the NL Central on Sept. 15, the Dodgers won the NL West on Sept. 17, and the Braves wrapped up the NL East on Sunday. The Red Sox secured an AL Wild Card on Sunday. The Red Sox secured an AL Wild Card on Sunday and clinched the AL's No. 5 seed with their win over the Cubs in Game 1 of their doubleheader on Friday. The Rays clinched the AL East on Tuesday, which locked the Yankees into the top AL Wild Card spot.
The Cubs and Padres clinched NL Wild Cards on Thursday, while the White Sox and Guardians also clinched postseason spots on the same day with the AL Central winner still undetermined.
WHAT ARE THE TIGHTEST RACES?
AL West: Astros and Rangers tied (Astros hold tiebreaker)
AL Central: Guardians lead White Sox by 1 game (White Sox hold tiebreaker)
NL Wild Card: Phillies lead D-backs by 1 1/2 games for final berth
FRIDAY'S KEY GAMES
Red Sox 2, Cubs 0 (Game 2)
Guardians at Royals, 7:40 p.m. ET | Get tickets
D-backs at Padres, 9:40 p.m. ET | Get tickets
WHO CAN CLINCH TODAY?
• Padres can clinch No. 4 seed and home-advantage in NL Wild Card Series with a win vs. D-backs
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.
Below, MLB.com is tracking the progress of relevant tiebreaker scenarios for contenders.
AL EAST
Rays (Clinched AL East, AL No. 1 seed)
The Rays clinched the AL East and the No. 1 seed with a win over the Yankees in the second game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, guaranteeing them home-field advantage through the ALCS.
Yankees (Clinched 1st AL Wild Card)
By taking one of two games in a doubleheader against the Rays on Tuesday, coupled with a Red Sox loss to the Guardians, the Yankees locked in the top AL Wild Card.
Red Sox (Clinched 2nd AL Wild Card)
With Boston's win over the Cubs in Game 1 of their doubleheader Friday, the Red Sox secured the No. 5 seed in the American League playoffs and will be the road team against the Yankees in the Wild Card Series for the second consecutive season.
AL CENTRAL
Guardians (1st in AL Central; 1 game ahead of CWS)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: White Sox
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: N/A
If the Guardians end up in a tie with the White Sox for the AL Central, they would fall into the third AL Wild Card spot
White Sox (2nd in AL Central; 1 game behind CLE)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Guardians, Rangers
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Astros
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: N/A
With a win over Cleveland on Sept. 14, the White Sox secured a crucial tiebreaker over the Guardians.
AL WEST
Astros (T-1st in AL West; tied with TEX)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Rangers
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: N/A
With the Astros and Rangers fighting for the AL West, Houston's head-to-head tiebreaker over Texas looms large.
Rangers (T-1st in AL West; tied with HOU)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Astros
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: N/A
The Rangers would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker to the Astros if the two clubs finish tied atop the AL West.
NL EAST
Braves (Clinched NL East, NL No. 3 seed)
Atlanta is locked into the NL's No. 3 seed after Thursday's loss to the Reds and will face the NL's No. 6 seed in a best-of-three Wild Card series at Truist Park.
Phillies (3rd in NL Wild Card; 1 1/2 games ahead of AZ)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Padres
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Cubs, D-backs
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: N/A
The Phillies would lose a tiebreaker against the D-backs on division record.
NL CENTRAL
Brewers (Clinched NL Central, NL No. 1 seed)
With the best record in MLB, the Brewers have earned a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Cubs (2nd in NL Wild Card, 2 1/2 games ahead of AZ)
- 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 Phillies, giving them the edge in the Wild Card standings.
NL WEST
Dodgers (Clinched NL West, NL No. 2 seed)
With Thursday's loss to the Padres, the Dodgers are locked into the No. 2 seed in the NL and will receive a bye to the NLDS.
Padres (1st in NL Wild Card, 1 1/2 games ahead of CHC, 2 1/2 games ahead of PHI)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Cubs, Phillies
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: N/A
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 (1 1/2 games behind PHI for 3rd for NL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: Phillies
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Cubs
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: N/A
The D-backs head into their final series in San Diego two games behind the Phillies but with a valuable tiebreaker in hand.