What's at stake on the final day of the season

October 1st, 2023

Saturday was a crazy day in baseball that saw the remaining five playoff spots filled with clinches from the Marlins, Rangers, Blue Jays, D-backs and Astros. 

However, the AL West division is still up for grabs between the Astros and Rangers, while some playoff seedings are still not determined in either league. Below is a look at what’s at stake on the final day of the season on Sunday. We’ll start with the relevant playoff seedings, and below that, you’ll find a look at some stat races and milestone chases that will go down to the wire.

There are a number of tiebreaker scenarios in play, and if you want to see the relevant head-to-head tiebreakers, click here. For a look at the multi-team tiebreakers, click here.

If you want to see what the Postseason bracket would look like if the season ended today, you can click here.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Here is what is locked in:

  • Orioles: Clinched the AL East and the No. 1 seed in the AL.
  • Twins: Clinched the AL Central and are locked into the No. 3 seed in the AL. They will host a Wild Card series against the No. 6 seed.
  • Rays: Clinched the No. 1 AL Wild Card and will host a Wild Card series against the No. 5 seed.
  • Rangers: Clinched a playoff berth with a win on Saturday.
  • Blue Jays: Clinched a playoff berth on Saturday.
  • Astros: Clinched a playoff berth on Saturday.

What’s still at stake:

  • The AL West division title and the seeding for the final two Wild Card spots.
  • If the Blue Jays, Astros and Rangers all end up with 90 wins, it is not treated as a three-way tie, but rather as two separate two-way ties, with the AL West being settled first. In that scenario, the AL West would to go Houston, by virtue of winning the season series against Texas. The Rangers would take the second WC spot while the Blue Jays would have the third WC spot. (Texas finished with a better head-to-head record.)
  • If Texas wins the division and the Astros and Blue Jays finish with 89 wins, the second WC seed would go to Toronto, with the third spot going to Houston.

Relevant AL games Sunday

Rays at Blue Jays, 3:07 p.m. ET
Rangers at Mariners, 3:10 p.m. ET
Astros at D-backs, 3:10 p.m. ET

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Here is what is locked in:

  • Braves: Clinched the NL East, the No. 1 seed in the NL, and home-field advantage through the World Series.
  • Dodgers: Clinched the NL West and the No. 2 seed in the NL.
  • Brewers: Clinched the NL Central and will be the No. 3 seed in the NL. They will host a Wild Card series against the No. 6 seed.
  • Phillies: Clinched the No. 1 NL Wild Card and will host a Wild Card series against the No. 5 seed.
  • Marlins: Clinched a Wild Card berth with a win on Saturday.
  • D-backs: Clinched a Wild Card berth on Saturday.

What’s still at stake:

  • Miami holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Arizona, so they will be the No. 2 Wild Card (No. 5 seed overall) if they win or if Arizona loses. However, if Arizona wins and Miami loses, then final seeding cannot be determined until the conclusion of Miami’s suspended game against the Mets, which is currently scheduled for Monday. (The Marlins are leading the Mets 2-1 in the top of the ninth of a game that began Thursday but was suspended by rain.)

Relevant NL games Sunday:

Marlins at Pirates, 3:05 p.m. ET
Astros at D-backs, 3:10 p.m. ET

In addition to the postseason seedings, there are plenty of statistical races and historical milestones to watch on Sunday. While much of what usually comes down to the wire is already settled, there’s plenty left to have your eye on.

STAT RACES

AL batting title
Rangers shortstop (.330) and Rays first baseman (.330) enter Sunday with the same batting average. However, Seager has a narrow edge based on percentage points -- he's at .3298 compared to Díaz's .3295 mark. The Rays have never had a batting champion, and even if Díaz comes up short, he could still post the best average from a qualified player in franchise history. , who hit .320 in 2009, currently holds that distinction. Three Rangers have won a batting title, including, most recently, in 2010.

FEATS/MILESTONES/RECORDS

Freddie Freeman: 60 doubles
No player has more doubles than Freeman since he made his debut in 2010, and he’s already led the NL in two-baggers three times during his career. He broke the Dodgers’ single-season franchise record for doubles on Sept. 8, and he has more history in his sights. Freeman, who hit his 59th double Friday, is close to becoming only the seventh player in AL/NL history and the first since 1936 to record a 60-double season.

Mookie Betts: Single-season leadoff home run record
Betts’ NL MVP candidacy is strengthened by how often he starts games with a bang. He has 12 leadoff homers this season, one off the AL/NL record set by in 2003. Betts’ 48 career leadoff dingers are tied with for the fifth-most in AL/NL history.

Bobby Witt Jr.: Fourth member of 30 HR/50 SB club
After Ronald Acuña Jr. joined the club with his 30th homer on Aug. 31, Witt (30 HR, 49 SB) has a chance to become the second member this season -- and just the fourth in AL/NL history. Prior to 2023, the only two players to pull off the feat were Eric Davis (37 HR, 50 SB) in 1987 and Barry Bonds (33 HR, 52 SB) in 1990.

Trea Turner: The Phillies speedster has 30 steals this season without being caught, which would set an MLB record -- assuming he doesn't get caught stealing on Sunday. The previous record is ex-Phils star Chase Utley, who was 23-for-23 in 2009.

Braves: All-time single-season HR record (307)
Owners of the best offense in baseball, the Braves have already bopped 305 homers, which is the most by any team in NL history. But with three more dingers, they would break the all-time record of 307, held by the 2019 Twins. The 2019 Yankees, with 306 homers, are the only other team with more home runs than the 2023 Braves.

Braves: AL/NL record for slugging percentage
Even if they can’t pass the 2019 Twins in terms of home runs, the Braves are almost certain to finish 2023 with the best team slugging percentage in AL/NL history. They are currently slugging .501, well ahead of the current record-holders: the 2019 Astros (.495).