Postseason Watch: Bracket, tiebreakers and more
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY
AL Wild Card Series (begins Oct. 3)
Best-of-three format (all video games at larger seed)
Blue Jays (6) at Twins (3)
Mariners (5) at Rays (4)
Orioles (1) and Astros (2) have byes
NL Wild Card Series (Oct. 3)
Best-of-three format (all video games at larger seed)
D-backs (6) at Brewers (3)
Cubs (5) at Phillies (4)
Braves (1) and Dodgers (2) have byes
AL Division Series (begins Oct. 7)
Best-of-five format
Rays/Mariners at Orioles
Twins/Blue Jays at Astros
NL Division Series (begins Oct. 7)
Best-of-five format
Phillies/Cubs at Braves
Brewers/D-backs at Dodgers
Since 2022, all ties within the standings — for a division title or Wild Card spot, or to find out playoff seeding — have been decided solely by a sequence of mathematical tiebreakers, reasonably than on the sector. A full breakdown of the present methodology could be seen right here, however to summarize, the highest three components are, so as: head-to-head file, intradivision file (i.e. throughout the identical division) after which file towards opponents in the identical league however a distinct division.
Here is a take a look at three examples of how tiebreakers might come into play:
Who is subsequent: The Braves (92-49) have a magic quantity of 1 to clinch a postseason berth and a magic variety of eight to clinch the NL East. The Dodgers (86-55) have a magic variety of eight to clinch the NL West title.
3 key video games from yesterday
AL East: Orioles lead Rays by 4 video games
AL West: Astros lead Mariners by 1 1/2 video games, Rangers by 3 video games
NL Central: Brewers lead Cubs by 4 video games
AL Wild Card: Blue Jays lead Rangers by 1 1/2 video games for third berth
NL Wild Card: D-backs lead Marlins by 1 1/2 video games and the Giants and Reds by 2 1/2 video games for third berth
Heading up: The D-backs received their third straight sport towards the Cubs, a fellow NL Wild Card contender. Arizona has now received 4 straight video games total and presently holds the third Wild Card spot within the Senior Circuit.
Heading down: With their loss to the Cardinals on Saturday, the Reds have dropped three straight and 4 of six, enabling the Giants to climb right into a tie with Cincinnati within the NL Wild Card standings — every membership is 2 1/2 video games behind Arizona for the third berth.
Clinched postseason berth: None
Almost there (90% postseason odds or higher): Braves, Dodgers, Orioles, Rays, Twins, Brewers, Astros, Phillies
In fine condition (50-89% postseason odds): Cubs, Mariners, Blue Jays, D-backs
In the combination (10-49% postseason odds): Rangers, Giants, Marlins, Reds
Still alive (Postseason odds above 0%): Red Sox, Guardians, Padres, Yankees
