Because the month of September rolls alongside, we’re counting right down to the top of the MLB common season and following all of the races to achieve the 2023 postseason.
The 12 groups within the 2023 playoffs, all listed beneath, have clinched their tickets to October. Nonetheless up for grabs on Sunday are the AL West title and the ultimate seeding in each wild-card standings.
(All numbers present by way of play Saturday.)
ATLANTA BRAVES
What’s subsequent: The Braves turned the primary staff to clinch a spot within the 2023 postseason with a win over the Pirates on Sept. 10, after which they claimed their sixth consecutive division title with a win over the Phillies on Sept. 13. Homeowners of baseball’s greatest report, the Braves would be the NL’s high seed, guaranteeing them a bye to the NLDS and home-field benefit all through the postseason. With the way in which the Braves have been taking part in this 12 months, it’s protected to say the NL playoffs run by way of Atlanta.
How they obtained right here: To place it bluntly, the Braves have been far and away the perfect staff in MLB this season. With a nearly 20% chance of winning the World Series, per FanGraphs, and a do-everything star in Ronald Acuña Jr., the Braves have pitched and hit and slugged and defended their manner past even the best expectations for this 12 months.
Clinched: NL East title, No. 1 seed
Why you need to root for them: They’re becoming baseball’s new final boss.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
What’s subsequent: In a season through which many anticipated the Dodgers to take a step again after a quiet offseason, they’ve as a substitute continued to do what they do: Cruise previous their NL West foes and into the postseason image. With an extra-innings win Sept. 16 towards the Mariners, the Dodgers clinched a ticket to the playoffs and their tenth division title prior to now 11 years. They will be the No. 2 seed within the NL bracket, with a bye to the NLDS.
How they obtained right here: This Dodgers’ season has been something however easy, however as soon as once more, their depth has carried them by way of. Accidents abound within the beginning rotation, leaving questions on who will pitch for L.A. within the postseason. These questions have been solely additional sophisticated by Julio Urias’ latest arrest for felony domestic violence and the information that Walker Buehler won’t return this season.
Clinched: NL West title, No. 2 seed
Why you need to root for them: They make bad players good.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
What’s subsequent: After taking the lead in arguably baseball’s strongest division in July, the Orioles clinched their first AL East title since 2014, together with a bye to the ALDS and internet hosting duties by way of the AL playoffs, with a win over the Red Sox on Thursday. The Orioles would be the high seed within the AL postseason bracket.
How they obtained right here: One of the nice surprises of the 2023 season, the young, fun, confident Orioles surged to the highest of the American League on the energy of a younger core blossoming into stars concurrently. The Orioles haven’t been swept in a sequence since Might 2022, a span that encompasses catcher Adley Rutschman’s whole big-league profession.
Clinched: AL East title, No. 1 seed
Why you need to root for them: They don’t know how to lose.
TAMPA BAY RAYS
What’s subsequent: The Rays weren’t capable of catch the Orioles for the AL East title and as a substitute settled for the American League’s high wild card. For a staff that would nonetheless win as many as 99 video games this season, there’s a lot to be optimistic about in October.
How they obtained right here: The Rays began 2023 as hot as any team in recent memory, leaping to an early lead of their division with a 13-0 begin. Accidents (notably to the rotation), attrition and Wander Franco’s legal situation have since taken a toll, however Tampa Bay has remained one of many AL’s high groups.
Clinched: AL wild card, No. 4 seed
Why you need to root for them: They’ve never won a World Series.
MINNESOTA TWINS
What’s subsequent: It was division-title-or-bust for the Twins, as some staff needed to win the moribund AL Central. Minnesota clinched the division and the No. 3 seed in the AL postseason bracket on Sept. 22 with a win towards the Angels. The Twins will host a wild-card sequence — and at the least gained’t must face the Yankees this 12 months.
How they obtained right here: The Twins led their division for many of the season on the energy of a bolstered pitching rotation led by Sonny Gray and Pablo López. On the offensive facet, nevertheless, there’s a lot left to be desired, as Carlos Correa hasn’t discovered his stride, and Byron Buxton is injured but once more.
Clinched: AL Central title, No. 3 seed
Why you need to root for them: They’re the underdoggiest underdogs.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
What’s subsequent: With the Cubs’ loss Tuesday, the Brewers clinched the NL Central title and wild-card internet hosting duties. Milwaukee held off the Cubs and the Reds to take the division and would be the No. 3 seed within the Nationwide League playoff bracket.
How they obtained right here: The Brewers have continued to do what they do best this season, with dominant pitching from each the rotation and the bullpen backed up by juuuust sufficient offense. The three-headed monster of Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta — with a Devin Williams chaser — has led the way in which in a division race that has been Milwaukee’s to lose for some time now.
Clinched: NL Central title, No. 3 seed
Why you need to root for them: Maybe because you’re a Mets fan.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
What’s subsequent: With the NL East long since spoken for, the Phillies comfortably led the NL wild-card standings for a lot of the season. And with a walk-off in extra innings Tuesday, they clinched the NL’s top wild card and internet hosting duties within the first sequence of the playoffs. Given their run to the World Sequence final 12 months, be ready for Philadelphia to again make some noise from wild-card position.
How they obtained right here: Buoyed as ordinary by a powerful forged of hitters, the Phillies are following the acquainted method of prolific home-run energy and simply sufficient pitching. Their bullpen would be the query come playoff time, however after a gradual begin, Trea Turner has gotten scorching scorching at simply the fitting time.
Clinched: NL wild card, No. 4 seed
Why you need to root for them: They have loads of star power.
MIAMI MARLINS
What’s subsequent: Did you see the Marlins coming? We actually did not. Nonetheless, the Marlins surged again into the NL wild-card combine and clinched their spot within the postseason with a win over the Pirates on Saturday.
How they obtained right here: The Marlins have by no means actually been in rivalry for the NL East, however they’ve stayed in the midst of the NL pack total for many of the season. And now, led by Luis Arraez‘s bat, the shocking Marlins have made their manner into the postseason.
Clinched: NL wild card
Why you need to root for them: If you like old-school batting metrics.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
What’s subsequent: After the Orioles gained the AL East title and the Rays nabbed the highest AL wild-card spot, the Blue Jays have been jockeying for wild-card place with three groups within the AL West. With the Mariners’ loss to the Rangers on Saturday, the Blue Jays secured their place within the postseason image.
How they obtained right here: Toronto began the season with hopes of contending for a division title, however whereas the season hasn’t entirely gone off the rails, this staff by no means actually appeared to be within the division image. With the Rays and Orioles making the AL East a two-horse race, the Blue Jays have as a substitute reached the playoffs through the wild-card area.
Clinched: AL wild card
Why you need to root for them: The remaining schedule could work in their favor.
TEXAS RANGERS
What’s subsequent: With a sweep of the Mariners final weekend (plus the Astros being swept), the Rangers took again the lead within the AL West and are heading towards their first division title since 2016. With their win Saturday over the Mariners, they secured their place within the postseason. Nonetheless up for grabs, nevertheless, is the AL West title and the bye to the ALDS that comes with it.
How they obtained right here: After a speedy and costly rebuild, the Rangers got here out of the gate scorching this season and led the division in a lot of the early going, thanks largely to an offense that looked unstoppable. Then came a late-summer swoon that allowed the Astros and Mariners to catch up within the standings. Now, the Rangers are one sport forward of the Astros heading into the ultimate sport of the common season.
Clinched: AL playoff spot
Why you need to root for them: They only know how to win big.
HOUSTON ASTROS
What’s subsequent: The Astros chased down each the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners to retake their ordinary place atop the AL West late within the season earlier than the Rangers edged them as soon as once more. This division will probably be determined Sunday — it goes by way of Houston till confirmed in any other case — however on the very least, the Astros secured their spot within the playoffs with a win Saturday over the Diamondbacks.
How they obtained right here: The Astros began slowly this 12 months and have been out of the playoff image for a lot of the primary half, however after reacquiring Justin Verlander and getting some key players back from injury this summer season, baseball’s favourite villains have appeared like their ordinary selves and aren’t a staff anybody desires to face in October.
Clinched: AL playoff spot
Why you need to root for them: They can’t quit MLB’s worst catcher.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
What’s subsequent: In a really crowded NL wild-card image, the Diamondbacks inched their manner up and forward of the fray in latest weeks. A September sweep of the Cubs helped Arizona transfer into the No. 5 playoff seed with only a few weeks to go, and so they clinched their spot within the postseason with the Reds’ loss Saturday.
How they obtained right here: Led by NL Rookie of the Year candidate Corbin Carroll and Cy Young contender Zac Gallen, the Diamondbacks shocked many by contending forward of schedule this season. They really led the NL West in a lot of the season’s first half earlier than a summer season hunch set them again of the Dodgers. Nonetheless, Arizona reached the postseason one 12 months after ending fourth within the division.
Clinched: NL wild card
Why you need to root for them: If you like stolen bases.
PLAYOFF BRACKET IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY
AL wild-card spherical:
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No. 6 Astros at No. 3 Twins
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No. 5 Blue Jays at No. 4 Rays
NL wild-card spherical:
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No. 6 Diamondbacks at No. 3 Brewers
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No. 5 Marlins at No. 4 Phillies
ALDS:
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Astros/Twins at No. 2 Rangers
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Jays/Rays at No. 1 Orioles
NLDS:
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D-backs/Brewers at No. 2 Dodgers
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Marlins/Phillies at No. 1 Braves
