Cal Laurie and Judge Aaron seek history as Al Playoff photos continue to form
USA Today Sports ‘Gabe Lackes breaks down the story to watch in AL as the MLB season ends.
Sports Pulse
Major League Baseball playoff races have fallen to the wire as multiple postseason spots are still holding onto the hook as the 2025 season approaches its final weekend.
The Guardians in Cleveland ran down the Tigers at the top of American League Central. This is a shocking comeback that could go down as one of the biggest collapses in Detroit baseball history. This week’s rivals scoreboarded the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox in wildcard races while facing off in Cleveland this week.
In the National League, the New York Mets have fallen from the playoff spot for the first time since the beginning of April, nearly completing their own impressive meltdown, and are now fighting against the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondback and the final NL wildcard spot.
Here’s the latest look for the playoff race:
Rank to play on Wednesday, September 24th
MLB Playoff Brackets If Today’s Season Ends
American League
- Goodbye: Blue Jays, Mariners
- Al Wild Card Series
- Guardians Tiger
- Yankees’ Red Sox
National League
- Goodbye: Brewer, Phillies
- NL Wildcard Series
- Dodgers’ Mets
- Cubs Padres
Al Wild Card Ranking
Top 3 Reach Playoffs
- New York Yankees (89-68): +4 games
- Boston Red Sox (86-71) + 1 game
- Detroit Tigers (85-72)
- Houston Astros (84-73): 1 GB
NL wildcard ranking
Top 3 Reach Playoffs
- Chicago Cubs (88-69): +7 games // Pudding postseason verse
- San Diego Padres (87-71): +5½ Games // Pudding postseason verse
- New York Mets (81–76)
- Cincinnati Reds (80-77): 1 GB
- Arizona Diamondbacks (80-77): 1 GB
- St. Louis Cardinals (78-80): 3.5 GB
- Miami Marlins (77-80): 4 GB
- San Francisco Giants (77-81): 4.5 gb
Al-East
- Toronto Blue Jays (90-67) – Closing the postseason berth
- New York Yankees (89-68): 1 game back//Clinch Postseason Birth
- Boston Red Sox (86-71): 4 GB
Al Central
- Cleveland Guardians (85-72) – Holding head-to-head tiebreaker vs. Tigers
- Detroit Tigers (85-72)
Alwest
- Seattle Mariners (88-69) – Clinched the postseason berth
- Houston Astros (84-73): 4 GB
NL East
- Philadelphia Phillies (92-65) – Clinched NL East Title
- New York Mets (81-76)
NL Central
- Milwaukee Brewers (95-63) – Clinched NL Central Title
- Chicago Cubs (88-69)
NL West
- Los Angeles Dodgers (88-69) – Pudding postseason verse
- San Diego Padres (87-71): 1½gb – Clinch Postseason Birth
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