Major League Baseball’s playoff scenarios are Johnathan Walkercrystallizing a little more every day.
With American and National league wild-card races both beginning Oct. 3 and the league’s top two division winners awaiting in Division Series play beginning Oct. 7, jockeying for position may come down to the final Sunday of the regular season.
For now, the Orioles, Rays, Braves and Dodgers have clinched their postseason trips – the latter two as NL division winners and likely top seeds.
With division and wild card ramifications changing by the day – or sometimes by the hour – USA TODAY Sports breaks down every race and what each club needs to do to cement its postseason status:
(Updated through Sept. 18 games)
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AL wild card series, beginning Oct. 3-5 (best-of-three, all at top seed)
ALDS, Oct. 7-13
NL wild card series, Oct. 3-5
NLDS, Oct. 7-14:
Tiebreaker: Orioles
Orioles' magic number: 9
Rays’ remaining schedule: vs. Angels (3), vs. Blue Jays (3), at Red Sox (2), at Blue Jays (3)
Orioles’ remaining schedule: at Astros (2), at Guardians (4), vs. Nationals (2), vs. Red Sox (4)
Tiebreaker: Guardians
Twins magic number: 5
Twins’ remaining schedule: at Reds (2), vs. Angels (3), vs. Athletics (3), at Rockies (3)
Guardians’ remaining schedule: at Royals (2), vs. Orioles (4), vs. Reds (2), at Tigers (3)
Tiebreakers: Astros over Rangers; Mariners over Astros; Rangers (lead season series 5-1) over Mariners
Astros magic number: 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)
Tiebreakers: Rangers over Blue Jays, Mariners (.419-.375 divisional winning percentage) over Blue Jays, Rangers (lead season series 5-1) over Mariners
Blue Jays’ remaining schedule: at Yankees (3), at Rays (3), vs. Yankees (3), vs. Rays (3)
Tiebreakers: Cubs-Brewers tied, 5-5; Brewers over Reds; Reds over Cubs
Brewers magic number: 7
Brewers’ remaining schedule: at Cardinals (3), at Marlins (3), vs. Cardinals (3), vs. Cubs (3)
Cubs’ remaining schedule: vs. Pirates (3), vs. Rockies (3), at Braves (3), at Brewers (3)
Reds’ remaining schedule: vs. Twins (2), vs. Pirates (3), at Guardians (2), at Cardinals (3)
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), at Yankees (3), at White Sox (3), vs. Astros (3)
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. Padres (3), vs. Dodgers (3)
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