Title: MLB Playoff Field Set as 2023 Regular Season Wraps Up: Astros, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Blue Jays, and Marlins Clinch Spots
All 12 spots in the 2023 Major League Baseball playoff field have been filled, with five teams securing their postseason berths on a dramatic Saturday night. The Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Miami Marlins all clinched their spots on the penultimate day of the regular season.
In an incredible 80-minute span, teams secured their berths, with the Rangers and Blue Jays qualifying for the playoffs simultaneously thanks to a Texas win over the Seattle Mariners. Unfortunately, the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and Seattle Mariners were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday night.
Although all spots in the playoffs are secured, the battle for the AL West title between the Rangers and Astros, as well as wild-card seeding, remains up for grabs on the final day of the regular season. The Rangers currently hold a one-game lead over the Astros in the division and only need to win to capture the division crown and secure the No. 2 seed in the American League bracket.
In the National League, seven teams (Braves, Dodgers, Orioles, Rays, Twins, Brewers, and Phillies) had their playoff spots secured well in advance of the exciting Saturday night games. The top four seeds are already locked in place: No. 1 Braves, No. 2 Dodgers, No. 3 Brewers, and No. 4 Phillies. The Braves and Dodgers have byes to the NLCS, while the Brewers and Phillies will host the Wild Card Series next week.
The Miami Marlins currently hold the tiebreaker with the Diamondbacks and can enhance their No. 5 seed position with a win against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. If the Marlins win or the Diamondbacks lose on Sunday, it would make their suspended game against the New York Mets on Monday unnecessary.
The American League playoff picture has three clinched seeds: No. 1 Orioles, No. 3 Twins, and No. 4 Rays. The Rangers or Astros will claim the No. 2 seed, while the Blue Jays could land at No. 5 or No. 6.
Notably, the 2023 MLB playoff picture is marked by the absence of the Padres, Yankees, Mets, and Cardinals, who were all playoff teams in 2022 but had disappointing years that will likely end with the regular season. The Los Angeles Angels also had their playoff hopes dashed in August, culminating in the decision to shut down Shohei Ohtani for the season.
As a reminder, MLB now follows a 12-team playoff format with the 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 receive byes to the League Division Series, while the other eight teams face each other in a best-of-three Wild Card Series.
With the final day of the regular season ahead, the stakes are high for several teams. The Rangers can clinch the AL West and a first-round bye with a win or an Astros loss. The Astros, on the other hand, can clinch the AL West and a first-round bye with a win and a Rangers loss. The Blue Jays can secure the AL’s No. 5 seed with an Astros loss or with a win and a Rangers win. Lastly, the Marlins can clinch the NL’s No. 5 seed with a win or a Diamondbacks loss.
It has been an exciting and unpredictable regular season, and now fans eagerly await the start of the playoffs. The magic numbers, tiebreakers, and standings further add to the anticipation and intrigue for baseball enthusiasts across the country.