MLB playoffs 2026 tracker: Standings, schedule, clinch scenarios, tiebreakers, playoff bracket and more

The 2026 MLB postseason is right around the corner. And with less than a week left in the regular season, every team with World Series aspirations still has a lot left to play for.

Let's break down the MLB standings and the playoff picture as it looks ahead of games on Sept. 22. (This post will be updated every day until the end of the regular season.)

The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in each league go to the division winners with the two best records. Those teams earn a bye through the wild-card round and hosting rights in the division series. Currently, the Rays , Guardians , Brewers and Dodgers are in line to claim those seeds.

The No. 3 seeds go to the third division winners — right now that's the Rangers and Braves — and those teams will host three-game wild-card series against the No. 6 seeds (which go to the third wild cards). The top wild-card teams in each league — currently the Yankees and Cubs — earn the No. 4 seeds and will host the No. 5 seeds (the second wild cards) in the wild-card round.

The higher seed also gets home-field advantage in the championship series, once we get that far.

AL Wild Card (best-of-3, Sept. 29-Oct. 1)

NL Wild Card (best-of-3, Sept. 29-Oct. 1)

The Brewers can clinch the NL's No. 2 seed and a first-round bye with a win over the Phillies or a Braves loss to the Reds .

The Cubs can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Marlins or a Diamondbacks loss to the Rockies .

The Padres can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Dodgers and a Diamondbacks loss to the Rockies.

The Rays can clinch the AL East and the No. 1 seed with a win over the Yankees in either game of their doubleheader.

The Yankees can clinch the No. 4 seed and home-field advantage for the wild-card series with a win over the Rays in either game of their doubleheader or a Red Sox loss to the Guardians.

Clinched playoff berth Record: 95-60 (.613) Magic number: 2 for AL East and No. 1 seed Tiebreakers to be decided: Yankees Remaining schedule: 7 left: @ NYY (4), @ PHI (3)

2. Cleveland Guardians (AL Central leader)

Record: 81-75 (.519) Magic number: 3 for playoff berth; 6 for AL Central Tiebreakers won: Orioles Tiebreakers lost: White Sox, Rangers, Blue Jays, Astros Tiebreakers to be decided: Red Sox Remaining schedule: 6 left: @ BOS (3), @ KC (3)

Record: 78-78 (.500) Magic number: 6 for playoff berth; 6 for AL West Tiebreakers won: Guardians, Blue Jays, Orioles Tiebreakers lost: White Sox, Astros Remaining schedule: 6 left: vs. NYM (3), @ MIN (3)

Clinched playoff berth Record: 89-66 (.574) Magic number: 1 for top AL wild card Tiebreakers won: Red Sox Tiebreaker still to be decided: Rays Remaining schedule: 7 left: vs. TB (4), vs. BAL (3)

Clinched playoff berth Record: 84-72 (.538) Magic number: 3 for second AL wild card Tiebreakers won: White Sox Tiebreakers lost: Yankees Tiebreaker still to be decided: Guardians Remaining schedule: 6 left: vs. CLE (3), vs. CHC (3)

6. Chicago White Sox (third AL wild card)

Record: 80-76 (.513) Magic number: 4 for playoff berth Tiebreakers won: Guardians, Rangers, Blue Jays Tiebreakers lost: Red Sox, Astros, Orioles Remaining schedule: 6 left: @ KC (3), vs. COL (3)

Record: 77-79 (.494) Tiebreakers won: Guardians, White Sox, Rangers Tiebreakers lost: Orioles Remaining schedule: 6 left: @ SEA (2), @ ATH (4)

Record: 77-80 (.490) Tiebreakers won: Guardians Tiebreakers lost: Rangers, White Sox Tiebreaker still to be decided: Orioles Remaining schedule: 6 left: @ BAL (3), vs. CIN (3)

Record: 76-81 (.484) Tiebreakers won: White Sox, Astros Tiebreakers lost: Guardians, Rangers Tiebreaker still to be decided: Blue Jays Remaining schedule: 6 left: vs. TOR (3), @ NYY (3)

1. Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central champion)

Clinched NL Central Record: 98-58 (.628) Magic number: 4 for No. 1 seed; 1 for No. 2 seed Tiebreakers won: Dodgers Remaining schedule: 6 left: @ PHI (3), vs. STL (3)

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West champion)

Clinched NL West Record: 96-60 (.615) Magic number: 3 for No. 2 seed Tiebreakers lost: Brewers, Braves Remaining schedule: 6 left: vs. SD (3), @ SF (3)

Clinched NL East Record: 92-64 (.590) Tiebreakers won: Dodgers, Phillies Tiebreakers lost: Padres Remaining schedule: 6 left: vs. CIN (3), @ MIA (3)

Record: 87-69 (.558) Magic number: 1 for playoff berth; 5 for second wild card; 6 for first wild card Tiebreakers won: Padres, Phillies, Diamondbacks Remaining schedule: 6 left: vs. MIA (3), @ BOS (3)

5. San Diego Padres (second NL wild card)

Record: 87-69 (.558) Magic number: 2 for playoff berth; 6 for second wild card Tiebreakers won: Braves Tiebreakers lost: Cubs, Phillies Remaining schedule: 6 left: @ LAD (3), vs. AZ (3)

6. Philadelphia Phillies (third NL wild card)

Record: 86-70 (.551) Magic number: 3 for playoff berth Tiebreakers won: Padres Tiebreakers lost: Braves, Cubs Remaining schedule: 6 left: vs. MIL (3), vs. TB (3)

Record: 82-74 (.526) Tiebreakers lost: Cubs Tiebreaker to be decided: Padres Remaining schedule: 6 left: @ COL (3), @ SD (3)

Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29 Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 30 Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 1*

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 3 Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 4 Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 6 Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 7* Game 5: Friday, Oct. 9*

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 3 Game 2: Monday, Oct. 5 Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 7 Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 8* Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 10* (*if necessary)

Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 11 Game 2: Monday, Oct. 12 Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 14 Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 15 Game 5: Friday, Oct. 16* Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 18* Game 7: Monday, Oct. 19*

Game 1: Monday, Oct. 12 Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 13 Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 15 Game 4: Friday, Oct. 16 Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 17* Game 6: Monday, Oct. 19* Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 20* (*if necessary)

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 23 Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 24 Game 3: Monday, Oct. 26 Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 27 Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 28* Game 6: Friday, Oct. 30* Game 7: Saturday, Oct. 31* (*if necessary)