MLB Playoffs Picture 2025 ; MLB Standings Today ; MLB Postseason ; AL Standings ; NL Standings Census 2026 [jVAQWnw8fYV]

What the playoff picture looks like with under a month to go

The 2025 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 santa fe - amrica as info about potential tiebreakers and clinch scenarios for each contender.

MLB's postseason format, explained

IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY

Here is a look at how the postseason field is shaping up, entering Wednesday. (Teams listed in order of seeding.)

AL playoff teams: Blue Jays (AL East), Tigers (AL Central), Astros (AL West), Yankees (Wild Card), Red Sox (Wild Card), Mariners (Wild Card)

NL playoff teams: Brewers (NL Central), Phillies (NL East), Dodgers (NL West), Cubs (Wild Card), Padres (Wild Card), Mets (Wild Card)

For a look at the full bracket, see the top of this page.

Each of the best-of-three Wild Card Series are set to begin on Sept. 30, while each of the best-of-five Division Series are set to begin on Oct. 4.

TIGHTEST RACES

AL Wild Card: Mariners lead Rangers by 1.5 games for final berth

NL West: Dodgers lead Padres by 2.5 games

AL East: Blue Jays lead Yankees and Red Sox by 2.5 games

AL West: Astros lead Mariners by 3 games

NL Wild Card: Mets lead Reds and Giants by 5 games for final berth

See the full standings here

3 KEY GAMES TODAY

Blue Jays at Reds, 6:40 p.m. ET | Get tickets

Phillies at Brewers, 7:40 p.m. ET | Get tickets

Yankees at Astros, 8:10 p.m. ET | Get tickets

Watch the postseason races on MLB.TV

See the full schedule here

AL: Astros | Blue Jays | Guardians | Mariners | Rangers | Rays | Red Sox | Royals | Tigers | Yankees

NL: Brewers | Cubs | Dodgers | Giants | Mets | Padres | Phillies | Reds

AL EAST

Blue Jays (1st in AL East; 2.5 games ahead of NYY and BOS)

Win tiebreaker vs: Mariners, Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees

Lose tiebreaker vs: N/A

Tiebreaker TBD vs: Astros (0-3; 3 games left)

Toronto is in great shape if it ends up tied for a division title, having locked up the edge over both New York and Boston.

Yankees (2nd in AL East; 2.5 games behind TOR)

Win tiebreaker vs: Mariners, Royals

Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays, Red Sox

Tiebreaker TBD vs: Astros (2-2, 2 games left); Tigers (1-2, 3 games left)

The Yankees hold a couple key Wild Card tiebreakers over the Mariners and Royals, but they'd lose out to either of their top AL East foes.

Red Sox (3rd in AL East; 2.5 games behind TOR)

Win tiebreaker vs: Astros, Royals, Yankees

Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays

Tiebreaker TBD vs: Mariners (3-3), Tigers (0-3, 3 games left)

The Red Sox hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Yankees, but a tiebreaker with the Mariners for a Wild Card spot would come down to each team's intradivisional record.

AL CENTRAL

Tigers (1st in AL Central; 9 games ahead of KC)

Win tiebreaker vs: Astros

Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays

Tiebreaker TBD vs: Red Sox (3-0; 3 games left), Yankees (2-1; 3 games left)

If the Tigers end up tied with the Blue Jays for the best record in the AL, Toronto would hold the tiebreaker after going 4-3 against Detroit this season.

AL WEST

Astros (1st in AL jessica pegula West; 3 games ahead of SEA)

Win tiebreaker vs: N/A

Lose tiebreaker vs: Red Sox, Tigers

Tiebreaker TBD vs: Blue Jays (3-0; 3 games left), Mariners (5-5; 3 games left), Royals (3-3), Yankees (2-2; 2 games left)

A Sept. 19-21 series against the Mariners at Daikin Park will determine a crucial head-to-head tiebreaker in the AL West.

Mariners (2nd in AL West; 3 games behind HOU)

Win tiebreaker vs: Rangers, Tigers, Guardians

Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays, Yankees

Tiebreaker TBD vs: Astros (5-5; 3 games left), Rays (3-2; 1 game left), Red Sox, (3-3; 0 games left), Royals (2-2; 3 games left)

The Mariners still have a chance to win tiebreakers over the Royals and Astros during back-to-back road series from Sept. 16-21.

Rangers (3rd in southwark council AL West; 4.5 games behind HOU)

Win tiebreaker vs: Red Sox

Lose tiebreaker vs: Mariners, Royals, Yankees

Tiebreaker TBD vs: Astros (4-3; 6 games left), Guardians (3-0, 3 games left), Rays (3-3)

The Rangers would lose out to the Mariners on a tiebreaker, but they still have the chance to win the tiebreaker against the Astros -- and pick up some ground in the standings -- if they can win at least three of their six remaining games against Houston.

AL WILD CARD

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