2023 MLB playoff picture, baseball standings, tiebreakers, magic numbers, postseason projections

The 2023 Major League Baseball playoffs get started in lower than two weeks, and there’s nonetheless masses to be decided in MLB’s playoff image. So a ways, 4 groups have clinched postseason berths. The Orioles and Rays joined the NL East-winning Braves and NL-West profitable Dodgers as 2023 playoff groups over the weekend. Eight spots stay open within the 12-team box, however the Twins and Brewers are remaining in on clinching the AL and NL Centrals, respectively. The AL West continues to be a hotly contested three-team race between the Astros, Rangers and Mariners, and the wild-card races in each leagues determine to return right down to the cord. 

In the American League wild-card hunt, 3 groups are combating for 2 spots. The Rays have an enormous lead for the AL’s No. 4 seed, and they are going to host a Wild Card Series if they are able to’t catch the Orioles within the AL East. The Astros are looking to fend off the Rangers and Mariners within the department, and the Blue Jays are jostling with the ones 3 AL West golf equipment for the overall two wild-card spots.

In the National League, the Diamondbacks have surged into the second one wild-card spot and the NL’s No. 5 seed. The Phillies are putting onto the No. 4 seed within the NL, however that spot isn’t assured. The Marlins, Cubs, Reds and Giants also are within the combine, however San Francisco is beginning to fall at the back of the sphere. The Padres, who’ve been below .500 all summer time, are creating a past due push with a seven-game profitable streak, nevertheless it may well be too little, too past due.

The 2023 MLB playoff image may be notable for who isn’t in it. Those Padres, along side the Yankees, Mets and Cardinals — all playoff groups in 2022 and anticipated contenders in 2023 — have had disappointing years that may most likely finish with the common season. The Angels noticed their playoff hopes dashed in a gloomy August. The Halos crashed out of the race in August and in the end close Shohei Ohtani for the season over the weekend.

As a reminder, MLB now makes use of a 12-team playoff structure with the 3 department winners and 3 wild card groups in each leagues qualifying for the postseason. The two department winners with the most productive data in every league get byes to the League Division Series spherical, whilst the opposite 8 groups sq. off in a best-of-three Wild Card Series.

Who’s clinched?

• Braves: Clinched NL East
• Dodgers: Clinched NL West
• Orioles: Clinched AL playoff spot
• Rays: Clinched AL playoff spot

Magic numbers

• Twins’ magic quantity to clinch AL Central: 1
• Brewers’ magic quantity to clinch NL Central: 4

Tiebreakers

Here’s a have a look at key tiebreakers that might come into play to resolve playoff spots and seeding. MLB makes use of head-to-head report as the highest tiebreaker amongst groups that end with the similar report.

AL East
Orioles personal tiebreaker over Rays

AL West
Astros personal tiebreaker over Rangers
Mariners personal tiebreaker over Astros
Rangers personal tiebreaker over Mariners

AL wild card
Rangers personal tiebreaker over Mariners and Blue Jays
Mariners personal tiebreaker over Blue Jays

NL wild card
Phillies personal tiebreaker over Reds, Cubs, Diamondbacks
Marlins personal tiebreaker over Phillies, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Reds
Giants personal tiebreaker over Phillies, Marlins, Reds, Diamondbacks
Cubs personal tiebreaker over Giants
Diamondbacks personal tiebreaker over Cubs
Reds personal tiebreaker over Cubs, Diamondbacks

Here’s a have a look at the MLB standings and playoff image for the 12-team postseason as of this morning. All department and postseason odds are courtesy of SportsLine, and you’ll be able to take a look at the expanded standings right here.

2023 MLB playoff image

American League

Byes

• No. 1 Orioles and No. 2 Astros

Wild Card Series

• No. 3 Twins vs. No. 6 Rangers
• No. 4 Rays vs. No. 5 Blue Jays

National League

Byes

• No. 1 Braves and No. 2 Dodgers

Wild Card Series

• No. 3 Brewers vs. No. 6 Cubs
• No. 4 Phillies vs. No. 5 Diamondbacks

American League standings

National League standings

Wild-card standings

American League

National League