The Cubs will have to wait at least one more day to claim their second consecutive National League Central title. The Cubs' loss to the Cardinals in St. Louis and the Brewers' win against the Reds in Milwaukee on Tuesday kept Chicago's magic number to clinch the division at one.
Here's a look at how the rest of Tuesday's action impacted the playoff picture:
Home-field advantage
The Dodgers, Yankees and Astros each clinched home-field advantages Tuesday. The Dodgers secured the National League's top seed with a win over the Padres, and Washington's loss to Philadelphia. At 101-57, L.A. still owns the best record in baseball, 2 1/2 games up on Cleveland for home field through the World Series.
The Yankees beat the Rays, 6-1, meaning the American League Wild Card Game is headed to Fenway Park in Boston or Yankee Stadium in New York. The runner-up in the AL East will host either the Twins or the Angels in the Wild Card Game.
The Astros also assured themselves of home-field advantage in the AL Division Series with a 14-3 win over the Rangers and Boston's loss to Toronto. The Indians are currently in possession of the AL's top seed with a one-game lead over the Astros.
NL Wild Card
The Rockies maintained their 1 1/2-game edge over the Brewers for the NL's second Wild Card spot by shutting out the Marlins 6-0. Colorado's magic number to clinch a matchup with the D-backs in the NL Wild Card Game on Oct. 4 in Phoenix is down to four over Milwaukee and three over St. Louis.
With their win over the Cubs, the Cardinals closed to within 2 1/2 games. The Rockies own the tie-breaker over the Brewers, but not the Cardinals. Milwaukee leads the season series vs. St. Louis, 9-7, with three head-to-head meetings remaining.
AL Wild Card
The Twins are one win away from guaranteeing themselves a spot in the AL Wild Card Game. James Dozier clubbed a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth, and Minnesota defeated the AL-leading Indians, 8-6, in Cleveland.
The Twins' victory eliminated the Royals, Rays and Rangers from the Wild Card race. The Angels remained alive with a 9-3 win over the White Sox, but will be eliminated from contention with their next loss or the Twins' next win.
AL East
The Red Sox lost for a second consecutive night, falling, 9-4, to the Blue Jays and holding their magic number to clinch the AL East at three. Boston returned home for its final homestand with a five-game lead on the Yankees that's now been cut to three with five games remaining.
If the postseason began today ...
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Wild Card: Twins at Yankees
Division Series: Wild Card at Indians, Red Sox at Astros
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Wild Card: Rockies at D-backs
Division Series: Wild Card at Dodgers, Cubs at Nationals
2017 POSTSEASON SCHEDULE
AL Wild Card Game (1-game playoff): Oct. 3
NL Wild Card Game (1-game playoff): Oct. 4
AL Division Series begins (best-of-5, 2-2-1 format): Oct. 5
NL Division Series begins (best-of-5, 2-2-1 format): Oct. 6
AL Championship Series begins (best-of-7, 2-3-2 format): Oct. 13
NL Championship Series begins (best-of-7, 2-3-2 format):Oct. 14
World Series begins (best-of-7, 2-3-2 format): Oct. 24