MLB Playoff Picture Update 9/20: Dodgers sweep the Rockies

American League East

The Red Sox got blown out by the Yankees on Wednesday night, and are now one game away from a sweep and losing their chance at clinching the division on the Yankees’ home field. The division is just about wrapped up either way, though, with the magic number at two.

American League Central

The Indians have clinched the division.

American League West

There were a pair of blowouts out west on Wednesday, and if you’re the type to root for close races around the league, the results were what you’re looking for. In Houston, the Mariners jumped out to a 3-0 lead off Dallas Keuchel and the Astros after just one inning, and didn’t slow down from there. They cruised to a 9-0 victory. Meanwhile, in Oakland, Brett Anderson tossed a gem and Stephen Piscotty knocked in five en route to a 10-0 win over the Angels. So, the A’s now sit four games back in the division, with the Astros’ magic number still at seven.

American League Wildcard

Nothing changed in the wildcard race, with all three teams we potentially have interest in picking up wins on Wednesday. The Yankees still lead the race for home field, holding a 2.5-game lead over Oakland. Meanwhile, the Rays also won with an early outburst in Texas, and they are still only 5.5 games back. It’s an unlikely comeback story, but the possibility is open. Oakland’s magic number to eliminate Tampa Bay is six.

Current AL Playoff Picture

E: Red Sox (1)

C: Indians (3)*

W: Astros (2)

WC1: Yankees (4)

WC2: Athletics (5)

*Clinched Division

National League East

The Braves have been struggling of late and needed a win on Wednesday to avoid a sweep from the Cardinals. They were able to do just that, with Touki Toussaint and Freddie Freeman leading the way to a 7-3 victory. The Phillies did keep pace as the division becomes more and more unlikely for them, getting a big-time start from Zach Eflin and a 4-0 shutout win over the Mets. So, the Braves still lead the division by 5.5 games, and their magic number is now six.

National League Central

The Cubs were playing the final game of a 30-consecutive-day streak without a day off, and they were going up against a Diamondbacks lineup that didn’t feature any of its stars. And yet, baseball is baseball. Arizona still jumped out to a big early lead and kept it all night, going home with a 9-0 victory. In Milwaukee, the Brewers took full advantage of this result, getting a great start from Gio Gonzalez and winning 7-0 over the Reds. With the Cardinals losing, the Cubs now see their lead over the Brewers down to 2.5 games while they still have a 5.5-game advantage over St. Louis. Chicago’s magic number to clinch is eight.

National League West

Wednesday was the final game of that huge three-game set pitting the Rockies against the Dodgers, and Los Angeles was looking for a sweep to keep control in the division. Yasiel Puig made sure that happened, hitting a huge pinch-hit home run in the seventh to break a tie and the Dodgers held off the Rockies for a 5-2 win. With the sweep, Los Angeles suddenly has a 2.5-game lead over the Rockies in the division with a magic number of eight. Arizona sits six games back.

National League Wildcard

With their win on Wednesday, the Brewers firmed up their grip on home field in the Wildcard Game with a three-game lead now built up in that race. St. Louis couldn’t create any more separation between them and the teams chasing them for that final playoff spot, though the Rockies are their biggest competition and they also lost. The Cardinals now lead Colorado by 1.5 games, while Philadelphia and Arizona are both five games back.

Current NL Playoff Picture

E: Braves (3)

C: Cubs (1)

W: Dodgers (2)

WC1: Brewers (4)

WC2: Cardinals (5)