2023 MLB Playoff Picture: Four Teams Clinch Postseason Berths, Wild-Card Races Intense
The 2023 Major League Baseball playoffs are just two weeks away, and the playoff picture is beginning to take shape. So far, four teams have clinched postseason berths, with the Orioles and Rays joining the NL East-winning Braves and NL West-winning Dodgers. However, the race for the remaining spots and seedings is heating up.
In the American League, three teams are battling for two wild-card spots. The Rays currently hold a significant lead for the AL’s No. 4 seed and are likely to host a Wild Card Series if they can’t catch up to the Orioles in the AL East. The Astros are fighting off competition from the Rangers and Mariners in their division, while the Blue Jays are vying for the final two wild-card spots against those three AL West clubs.
In the National League, the Diamondbacks and Marlins had successful weekends and moved up the standings. The Phillies currently hold onto the No. 4 seed in the NL, but their spot is far from guaranteed. The Cubs, Reds, and Giants are also in contention for a wild-card spot.
One noteworthy aspect of the 2023 MLB playoff picture is the absence of some expected contenders. The Yankees, Mets, Padres, and Cardinals, who were all playoff teams in 2022, have had disappointing seasons and will miss the postseason. The Angels saw their playoff hopes come to an end in August and made the decision to shut Shohei Ohtani down for the rest of the season.
It’s important to note that MLB now uses a 12-team playoff format, with three division winners and three wild-card teams from each league qualifying for the postseason. The two division winners with the best records in each league earn byes to the League Division Series, while the other eight teams will compete in a best-of-three Wild Card Series.
As we approach the final stretch of the regular season, tiebreakers will play a crucial role in determining playoff spots and seeding. Head-to-head record serves as the top tiebreaker among teams that finish with the same record.
In the AL, the Orioles hold the tiebreaker over the Rays in the AL East. In the AL West, the Astros own the tiebreaker over the Rangers, but the Mariners own the tiebreaker over the Astros. In the AL wild-card race, the Rangers hold the tiebreaker over the Mariners and Blue Jays, while the Mariners hold the tiebreaker over the Blue Jays.
In the NL wild-card race, the Phillies hold the tiebreaker over the Reds, Cubs, and Diamondbacks. The Marlins hold the tiebreaker over the Phillies, Diamondbacks, Cubs, and Reds. The Giants hold the tiebreaker over the Phillies, Marlins, Reds, and Diamondbacks. The Cubs hold the tiebreaker over the Giants, while the Diamondbacks hold the tiebreaker over the Cubs. The Reds hold the tiebreaker over the Cubs and Diamondbacks.
Here is a look at the current MLB standings and playoff picture for the 12-team postseason:
American League:
Byes: Orioles, Astros
Wild Card Series: Twins vs. Rangers, Rays vs. Blue Jays
National League:
Byes: Braves, Dodgers
Wild Card Series: Brewers vs. Cubs, Phillies vs. Diamondbacks
In the American League standings, the Orioles and Rays have secured their playoff spots. The Twins and Brewers are on the verge of clinching their division titles in the AL Central and NL Central, respectively.
In the National League standings, the Dodgers have clinched the NL West, while the Diamondbacks, Marlins, Phillies, Cubs, Reds, and Giants are battling for wild-card spots.
With the regular season winding down, the race for the playoffs is intensifying. Fans can expect an exciting finish with tight division battles and wild-card races going down to the wire.