Mets collapse opens door for surprise NL Wild Card race down the stretch
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With six playoff berths available in each league, and tightly bunched standings among both division leaders and wild-card entrants, the final week of the Major League Baseball season could bring significant volatility to the American and National leagues’ pecking orders.
Come Sept. 28, all 2,430 games will have been contested, TV times announced and charter planes pointed toward playoff matchups. Yet plenty can change between now and then.
With that, USA TODAY Sports projects the postseason field – though you’re encouraged to use pencil, not pen, in filling out those brackets:
American League
Nos. 1-2 seeds: Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners
The coveted first-round bye that division winners with the two best records earn has been hard to give away as virtually every division leader has struggled mightily of late. Yet the dogged Mariners – they are 15-1 since sept. 6 – simply stole the AL West crown from Houston as the Detroit Tigers collapsed; suddenly, the Mariners got vaulted to the playoff penthouse.
MLB Playoff Picture: A Late-Season Update
As the regular season winds down, the MLB playoff picture is coming into focus, but several key races remain incredibly tight. Here’s a breakdown of the current standings and what to watch for in the final days.
American League
Wild Card Race: A Nail-Biter
The american League Wild Card spots are particularly competitive. The Red Sox face a challenging final stretch, with three games in Toronto before finishing against the Tigers at Fenway Park – arguably the toughest final schedule of any contender. Currently holding the No. 2 Wild Card position, they are only one game ahead of both Cleveland and Houston.
Fortunately for Boston, they hold the tiebreaker over both clubs. The best-case scenario sees their playoff fate sealed by Saturday, allowing them to skip Lucas Giolito in the season finale (a welcome outcome for Detroit!) and preserve both Giolito and Garrett Crochet for the potential Yankees series.
National League
Nos. 1-2 Seeds: Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies
At this stage of the season, consistency is key. The Brewers and Phillies have secured the top two seeds for over a month. Their stability is a testament to strong seasons.
Key Takeaways
- The AL Wild Card race is incredibly tight, with the Red Sox, Cleveland, and Houston all vying for the final spots.
- Boston holds crucial tiebreakers over cleveland and Houston.
- The Brewers and Phillies have comfortably secured the top two seeds in the National League.
Publication Date: 2025/09/23 06:11:29