2024 MLB playoff picture: Baseball standings, postseason projections, odds entering final month of regular season
September, the final month of the Major League Baseball regular season calendar, is just around the corner. That means the stretch drive is underway and should have our full attention. Speaking of which, the various and sundry playoff races are the major storyline in baseball right now, and we’ve dedicated this space to them.
As a reminder, MLB now awards 12 playoff berths — six total to division winners and then three wild-card berths in each league. The top two division winners in each league are awarded first-round byes based on overall record, meaning they don’t have to play in the best-of-three wild card series that serves as the first round.
As for what hangs in the balance, that’s pretty much it. The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles are still embroiled in a tight battle at the top of the American League East standings. Three teams – the Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins – are trying to capture the AL Central title. Also, the West-leading Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to beat their rivals.
On the wild-card front, the New York Mets remain in range of the Atlanta Braves, who are in third and final place in the NL. On the AL side, the Boston Red Sox are hoping to take over third place, which is currently held by the Twins. All of this is to say nothing of seeding and all the jockeying for those aforementioned byes.
Now let’s tell you where all of these races stand right now during the final weeks of the regular season. All division and postseason projections referenced in the standings are from SportsLine.
2024 MLB playoff pictures
If the season ended today…
American League
Byes: No. 1 Yankees, No. 2 Guardians
Wild Card Series: No. 3 Astros vs. No. 6 Twins, No. 4 Orioles vs. No. 5 Royals
National League
Byes: No. 1 Dodgers, No. 2 Phillies
Wild Card Series: No. 3 Brewers vs. No. 6 Braves, No. 4 D-Backs vs. No. 5 Padres
American League standings
National League standings
MLB wild-card standings
2024 World Series prospects
(till 27 August)
- Dodgers: +350
- Yankees: +550
- Phillies: +600
- Orioles: +650
- Astros: +850
- Patron: +1300
- Padres: +1400
- Brewers: +1400
- Brave: +1600
- D-Backs: +1600
- Twins: +1800
- Royals: +2400
