This time last week, we discussed how the red-hot Royals exploded onto the scene in the American League Wild Card race, winning nine games in a row and 10 of 11 to build a 2.5-game lead over the competition for final postseason slot. 5 St.Limping into the week after five losses in seven games, the Kansas City Royals hold a slim lead over the Rays in the American League Wild Card standings.
The Brewers play Cincinnati on Wednesday, before beginning a season-ending five-game series against the Cardinals on Thursday, which will in all likelihood decide two of the NL's remaining postseason berths.
Louis and Cincinnati, the Brewers are still in with a shout to make the playoffs. The Cardinals currently hold the fifth seed in the NL but a postseason trip is far from guaranteed, with the Cincinnati Reds just one game behind them in the race for second place in the NL Central.Ĭincinnati is one game behind the Cardinals in the NL Central and level with the Brewers, whom it will face in a potentially crucial game on Wednesday night. The Marlins need three wins from their final five games to finish qualify for the playoffs as the runners-up in the NL East and currently have a 1.5-game lead over third-placed Philadelphia Phillies. The Padres secured a first postseason berth since 2006 and currently hold the best record of the five NL teams holding a postseason berth as non-division winners.
The Cubs returned to the playoffs after a one-season hiatus and will clinch the NL Central title with four wins in their last five games. The Braves clinched a third straight NL East title and will now focus on reaching the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2001, after falling in the NL Division Series eight times in the last 19 years. The Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a team picture, after a 7-2 win over the Oakland Athletics, to win the National League West Division at Dodger Stadium on September 22 in Los Angeles.
The pre-season favorites are living up to their name and have clinched the NL West title for the eighth consecutive season, with attention now shifting towards winning a first World Series since 1988 after 13 failed attempts. The Blue Jays are third in the AL East but currently hold the second of two wildcard spots with a 3.5-game margin over the Angels and will punch their ticket to the postseason if they win two of their next five games.Ĭurrent playoffs matchups as of September 23 (*Denotes team that has clinched a postseason berth) The Astros hold a 3.5-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the race for the second spot in the AL West and need two wins over their last five games to clinch a playoff berth.Ĭleveland is back in the postseason for the fourth time in five seasons and could still clinch the AL Central title, provided it wins its two upcoming games against the White Sox. One of the pre-season favorite to win the World Series, the Yankees confirmed their playoff spot over the weekend but have little chance of overtaking the Rays at the top of the AL East. Over the weekend the Twins secured a postseason berth for the third time in the last four seasons and will be hoping to end a dismal run of form in the playoffs which has seen them lose 16 consecutive games since taking the opener of the AL Division Series in 2004. The A's are still very much in the race to secure one of the top two spots in the AL. Oakland secured a third straight trip to the postseason last week and on Monday it clinched a first AL West title since 2013.