The MLB Playoff Picture, including the latest bracket if the season ended today and the league-wide standings (with playoff seeds). Updated throughout the 2017 Major League Baseball season.
MLB Latest Articles
- Inside the 2017 Seattle Mariners Rebound
- Clayton Kershaw Injured: Panic Time For Dodger Blue?
- The Three Most Disappointing MLB Teams of 2017
- 2017 Minnesota Twins An Understated MLB Comeback Story
- State of the AL Central Standings: A Royal Resurgence
- POLLS: 2017 National League Division Champions
MLB Power Rankings, Updated Weekly
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain on a long streak of number ones.
MLB Playoff Picture Bracket: If The Season Ended Today
Standings last updated September 24, 2017 07:00 ET
X: Clinched Playoff Berth
Y: Clinched Division
Z: Clinched League Home-Field
Z*: Clinched Home-Field/Best Record in Baseball
E: Eliminated From Playoff Contention
MLB Playoff Picture: American League
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 1 (Y) | 2 (Y) | 3 (X) | WC1 (X) | WC2 |
| 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| (E) | (E) | (E) |
MLB Playoff Picture: American League, September 20 Update
No change to the playoff picture in the American League since last week, but inside the final two weeks, who knows what may happen. Minnesota’s hold on the second AL wild card is minimal, but the Angels can’t seem to win enough to catch them. Texas and all the teams beneath the Rangers are sub-.500, making their odds at a berth unlikely at this stage.
Cleveland, Houston, Boston, and the Yankees are the clear top four in the American League. As of today, the Yankees lead Minnesota for wild card home-field by six games. The Indians and Astros are in a close race for AL home-field. Finally, it appears Boston will be the third seed, unless the Yankees catch them in the closing days.
MLB Playoff Picture: American League, September 13 Update
20 wins a row rocketed Cleveland into the number one seed in the American League. Houston falls to the second seed, and a likely meeting with the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS. Cleveland would face whomever comes out of the wild card. The Yankees continue to lead the first slot, and welcome Minnesota back into the second. Anaheim slash Los Angeles is right behind them, while none of the other contenders have made big moves yet.
MLB Playoff Picture: American League, September 6 Update
The first four playoff seeds remain stable. It’s the fifth and final seed, also known as the second wild card, that isn’t. Seven teams chase that last spot, and don’t expect anyone to pull away from the pack.
The AL East is still the only division race in flux.
MLB Playoff Picture: American League, August 30 Analysis
The American League has a playoff race of intrigue, and perhaps a division race or two. Other than that, however, feel assured of at least a few playoff teams. Houston is all but locked in for the AL West title. Cleveland has a comfortable lead, but aren’t quite home free yet. And finally, in the AL East, the Red Sox are staying ahead of the New York Yankees, but with the narrowest AL division lead.
It’s the AL wild card attracting all the eyes. When there are six or seven teams legitimately in the race, that will do it. Here’s the thing: many of the second wild card contenders are .500 teams. This is not great baseball on display, but at least some mystery is maintained. This is unlike the National League, where there is almost none.
MLB Playoff Picture: National League
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 1 (Y) | 2 (Y) | WC1 | 3 | WC2 | (E) |
| 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| (E) | (E) | (E) | (E) | (E) | (E) | (E) |
MLB Playoff Picture: National League, September 20 Update
Colorado has a very slim one-game lead on Milwaukee for the second wild card. The Brewers are hot and may upset what for months we expected to be the wild card game between the Rockies and Diamondbacks.
Despite a long, unexpected cold streak, the Dodgers still look like the top seed in the National League when it’s over. What’s of more concern is how they look going into the playoffs. On August 25, they were 91-36, an astounding 55 games over. 500. Since that date, the Dodgers are 5-19. A team that looked like World Series contender could go out in the NLDS at this rate.
MLB Playoff Picture: National League, September 13 Update
All the Dodgers had to do was win a stinkin’ game to clinch a playoff bid, and they finally did it. While they are still the likeliest number one seed in the National League, things don’t look quite so good. Washington, the second seed, is playing much better. The Cubs are hanging around in first place, and though they aren’t safe, neither St. Louis nor Milwaukee have run them down yet. Colorado restored order in the wild card race, and the Arizona-Colorado wild card game is back on again.
MLB Playoff Picture: National League, September 6 Update
The Dodgers look terrible, which is less of a concern for making the playoffs and more of one for what happens when they get there. This is a team that didn’t come this far just to flop in October.
Otherwise, aside from Colorado nearly coughing up the wild card, things are remarkable quiet in the National League. In the last month, the league’s standings have barely changed at all.
MLB Playoff Picture: National League, August 30 Analysis
If the National League’s playoff picture looks like it hasn’t changed in about a month, you’re right. Nobody will unseat the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Washington Nationals have the NL East in hand. It’s been the same two wild card teams since the summer began. In the only bit of drama, the Chicago Cubs still maintain a slim lead in the NL Central. Once the Cubbies eclipsed the Milwaukee Brewers, that was it.
It goes without saying that the NL Central is one of the only intriguing National League races. Yet, the seeding of the NL wild cards is in play as well. That’s not nearly as interesting, however, since it’s essentially to determine which is the home team. Either Arizona or Colorado will get it, and there are no other true contenders.
