Standings updated through early games played on Sept. 18.
The 2025 postseason is approaching. As you keep an eye on the standings, here is everything you need to know about how the playoff field is shaping up, as well as info about potential tiebreakers and clinch scenarios for each contender.
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY
Here is a look at how the postseason field is shaping up. (Teams listed in order of seeding.)
AL playoff teams: Blue Jays (AL East), Tigers (AL Central), Mariners (AL West), Yankees (Wild Card), Astros (Wild Card), Red Sox (Wild Card)
NL playoff teams: Brewers (NL Central), Phillies (NL East), Dodgers (NL West), Cubs (Wild Card), Padres (Wild Card), Mets (Wild Card)
For a look at the full bracket, see the top of this page.
Each of the best-of-three Wild Card Series are set to begin on Sept. 30, while each of the best-of-five Division Series are set to begin on Oct. 4.
TIGHTEST RACES
AL West: Astros and Mariners tied
NL Wild Card: Mets lead D-backs and Reds by 2 games for final berth
NL West: Dodgers lead Padres by 2.5 games
AL Wild Card: Red Sox lead Guardians by 1.5 games for final berth
KEY GAME TODAY
Giants at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. ET | Get tickets
TIEBREAKERS
Since 2022, all playoff tiebreakers have been determined mathematically, rather than via tiebreaker games. That means ties for division titles and postseason berths, as well as for seeding, come down first to head-to-head record between those teams during the season, with other tiebreakers available if needed.
Below, MLB.com is tracking the progress of relevant tiebreaker scenarios for contenders (defined here as within five games of a playoff spot).
AL EAST
Blue Jays (1st in AL East; 3.5 games ahead of NYY)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Mariners, Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Astros
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: N/A
Toronto is in great shape if it ends up tied for a division title, having locked up the edge over both New York and Boston. If the Jays and the Tigers end up tied for the best record in the AL, Toronto owns the tiebreaker.
Yankees (2nd in AL East; 3.5 games behind TOR)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Mariners, Rangers
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Tigers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Astros (3-3), Guardians (3-3)
The Yankees hold a key Wild Card tiebreaker over the Mariners, but they'd lose out to either of their top AL East foes and the Tigers after Detroit defeated New York last Wednesday in the Bronx.
AL CENTRAL
Tigers (1st in AL Central; 3.5 games ahead of CLE)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Astros, Yankees
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Red Sox (3-0; 3 games left), Guardians (4-6; 3 games left)
If the Tigers end up tied with the Blue Jays for the best record in the AL, Toronto would hold the tiebreaker after going 4-3 against Detroit this season.
Guardians (2nd in AL Central; 3.5 games behind DET)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Astros
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Mariners, Red Sox
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Rangers (0-3; 3 games left), Tigers (6-4; 3 games left), Yankees (3-3)
The Guardians need just one win in their final three-game series against the Tigers to sew up what could be an important tiebreaker between the two AL Central foes.
AL WEST
Astros (1st in AL West; tied with SEA)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays, Rangers
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Guardians, Red Sox, Tigers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Mariners (5-5; 3 games left), Yankees (3-3)
The Astros would lose out in tiebreaker scenarios with the Guardians and Red Sox but can still pick up the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Mariners.
Mariners (1st in AL West; tied with HOU)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Rangers, Tigers, Guardians
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays, Yankees
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Astros (5-5; 3 games left), Red Sox (3-3)
The final series between the Mariners and Astros, from Friday-Sunday in Houston, will not only matter in the standings but will decide the head-to-head tiebreaker between the two clubs as well. The Mariners hold the better intradivision record (.633 winning percentage to Houston's .512), which technically has them in first place heading into the weekend.
Rangers (3rd in AL West; 5 games behind HOU)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Red Sox
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Astros, Mariners, Yankees
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Guardians (3-0; 3 games left)
After being swept by the Astros, the Rangers would lose out to both Houston and Seattle in tiebreaker scenarios.
AL WILD CARD
Red Sox (Currently hold 3rd AL Wild Card position)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Astros, Guardians, Yankees
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays, Rangers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Mariners (3-3), Tigers (0-3; 3 games left)
The Red Sox hold head-to-head tiebreakers over the Astros, Guardians and Yankees, but a tiebreaker with the Mariners for a Wild Card spot would come down to each team's intradivision record.
NL EAST
Phillies (Clinched NL East)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Cubs, Dodgers
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Brewers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Padres (3-3)
After losing the season series to the Brewers, the Phillies clinched a tiebreaker against the Dodgers by winning the first two games of their three-game set in Los Angeles.
NL CENTRAL
Brewers (1st in NL Central; 5 games ahead of CHC)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Dodgers, Phillies
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Cubs
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Padres (1-2; 3 games left)
The Brewers own the best record in baseball and have pivotal tiebreakers against the Dodgers and Phillies, should Milwaukee finish the regular season with the same record as one of those clubs.
Cubs (2nd in NL Central; 5 games behind MIL)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Brewers, Dodgers
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Phillies
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Mets (1-2; 3 games left), Padres (3-3)
The Cubs clinched a postseason berth with Wednesday's win over the Pirates. If they can erase their deficit in the NL Central, they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Brewers.
NL WEST
Dodgers (1st in NL West, 2.5 games ahead of SD)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Padres
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Brewers, Cubs, Mets, Phillies
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: N/A
By winning nine of the 13 games between the two clubs, the Dodgers have secured a huge NL West tiebreaker over the Padres. They would lose out on tiebreakers with the Brewers or Phillies, though.
Padres (2nd in NL West; 2.5 games behind LAD)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Giants, Mets
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Dodgers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Cubs (3-3), D-backs (5-5; 3 games left), Reds (3-3)
The Padres picked up a key Wild Card tiebreaker with Wednesday's win over the Mets. Division record would break any tie with the Cubs or Reds.
NL WILD CARD
Mets (Currently hold 3rd NL Wild Card position)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Padres, Reds
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Cubs (2-1; 3 games left), D-backs (3-3)
The Mets hold the tiebreaker over two of their closest competitors in the Wild Card race (Giants and Cardinals), but they don't have the tiebreaker over the Reds, and a tiebreaker with the D-backs would come down to intradivision record at the end of the season.
D-backs (2 games behind NYM for 3rd Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Giants
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Reds
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Cardinals (3-3), Mets (3-3), Padres (5-5; 3 games left)
The D-backs, who have climbed back into the Wild Card race, secured a key head-to-head tiebreaker over the Giants with a series win at Chase Field.
Reds (2 games behind NYM for 3rd NL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs: D-backs, Mets
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Cardinals
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Giants (3-3), Padres (3-3)
The Reds own important tiebreakers against the D-backs and Mets, should they end the season with the same record as one of those clubs for a Wild Card spot.
Giants (2.5 games behind NYM for 3rd NL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs: D-backs, Mets, Padres
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Cardinals (1-2; 3 games left), Reds (3-3)
The Giants lost the head-to-head tiebreaker against the D-backs this week in Arizona, but they can still win the tiebreaker against the Cardinals.
Cardinals (5 games behind NYM for 3rd Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Reds
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Mets, Padres
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: D-backs (3-3), Giants (2-1; 3 games left)
The Cardinals are still hanging around and secured a tiebreaker against the Reds on Tuesday, but time is running out for St. Louis.