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Seriously Sports, USA TODAY
The Major League Baseball playoff scenarios are crystallizing a little more by the day.
With the American and National League wild-card races beginning Oct. 3 and the top two league winners awaiting Division Series play beginning Oct. 7, the jockeying for position could come down to the final Sunday of the regular season.
For now, the Orioles, Rays, Braves and Dodgers have earned their postseason trips – the last two as NL division winners and likely first-place finishers.
With the division and wild card ramifications changing by the day — or sometimes by the hour — USA TODAY Sports breaks down each race and what each club needs to do to cement their postseason status:
(Updated through September 18th games)
Postseason photo: If the playoffs started today
AL wildcard series, starting October 3-5 (best of three, all top seed)
- Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins
- Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays
ALDS, October 7-13
- Rangers-Twins winner over second-place Houston Astros
- Blue Jays-Rays Winner at No. 1 Baltimore Orioles
NL Wildcard Series, October 3-5
- Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers
- Arizona Diamondbacks vs Philadelphia Phillies
NLDS, October 7-14:
- Cubs-Brewers Winner at Los Angeles Dodgers
- Diamondbacks-Phillies Winner at No. 1 Atlanta Braves
AL East standings, magic numbers (through September 18 games)
- Orioles 94-56
- Rays 92-59, 2.5 games ago
Tiebreaker: Orioles
Orioles Magic Number:9
Rays Remaining Schedule: vs. Blue Jays (3), Red Sox (2), Blue Jays (3)
Orioles Remaining Schedule: at Astros (2), at Guardians (4), vs. Nationals (2), vs. Red Sox (4)
AL Central standings, magic number
- Gemini 79-72
- Guardians 72-79, 7GB
Tiebreaker: Guardians
Twins magic number:5
Twins Remaining Timeline: in Reds (2), vs. Angels (3), vs. Athletics (3), at Rockies (3)
Remaining Guardians Schedule: in Royals (2), vs. Orioles (4), vs. Reds (2), at Tigers (3)
AL Oeste Race
- Astros 84-67
- Sailors 82-68, 1.5 GB
- Rangers 82-68, 1.5GB
Tiebreakers: Astros over Rangers; Sailors over Astros; Rangers (main season series 5-1) over Mariners
Magic number of the stars: 11
Astros Remaining Schedule: vs. Orioles (2), vs. Royals (3), at Mariners (3), at Diamondbacks (3)
Mariners Remaining Schedule: at A’s (2), at Rangers (3), vs. Astros (3), vs. Rangers (4)
Rangers Remaining Schedule: vs. Red Sox (2), vs. Mariners (3), at Angels (3), at Mariners (4)
AL wild card classification
- Spokes 92-59*
- Blue Jays 83-67
- Sailors 82-68
- Rangers 82-68
Tiebreakers: Rangers over Blue Jays, Mariners (.419-.375 divisional winning percentage) over Blue Jays, Rangers (5-1 season series leader) over Mariners
Blue Jays Remaining Schedule: at Yankees (3), at Rays (3), vs.
NL Central Standings
- Brewers 84-66
- Puppies 78-72, 6GB
- Reds 79-73, 6 GB
Tiebreakers: Cubs-Brewers tied, 5-5; Brewers instead of reds; Reds over Cubs
Brewers’ magic number:7
Brewers Remaining Schedule: at Cardinals (3), at Marlins (3), vs. Cardinals (3), vs.
Cubs Remaining Schedule: vs. Pirates (3), vs. Rockies (3), at Braves (3), at Brewers (3)
Reds remaining schedule: vs. Twins (2), vs. Pirates (3), on Guardians (2), on Cardinals (3)
NL Wildcard Standings
- Philadelphia 82-68
- Diamonds 79-72
- Puppies 78-72
- Reds 79-73, 0 GB
- Marlins 78-73, 0.5GB
- Giants 76-74, 2GB
Tiebreakers: Diamondbacks over Cubs, Reds over Diamondbacks, Marlins over Diamondbacks, Reds over Cubs, Marlins over Cubs, Cubs over Giants, Marlins over Reds, Giants over Reds, Giants (.575 divisional) over Marlins (.511)
Diamondbacks Remaining Schedule: vs. Giants (2), Yankees (3), White Sox (3), vs.
Marlins Remaining Schedule: vs. Mets (2), vs. Brewers (3), at Mets (3), at Pirates (3)
Giants Remaining Schedule: at Diamondbacks (2), at Dodgers (4), vs. Fathers (3), vs.