MLB Playoff Picture Update 9/29: Rockies clinch a playoff spot

American League East

The Red Sox have clinched the American League East.

American League Central

The Indians have clinched the American League Central.

American League West

The Astros have clinched the American League West.

American League Wildcard

Heading into the final weekend of the year, there was just one race in the American League. That was in the wildcard, where the Yankees were trying to secure home field in the Wildcard Game. The magic number to clinch that home game was just one heading into the game, and the Yankees went out and crushed the Red Sox at Fenway. With that win, they guaranteed the Wildcard Game will be in the Bronx, and the American League is all wrapped up.

Current AL Playoff Picture

E: Red Sox* (1)

C: Indians* (3)

W: Astros* (2)

WC1: Yankees* (4)

WC2: Athletics* (5)

National League East

The Braves have clinched the National League East.

National League Central

If you’re looking for some action, the National League is where you want to be looking. The Central was separated by just one game heading into Friday’s action, with the Cubs controlling their own destiny. They took care of business in their first game of their series against the Cardinals, getting solid offense all night long and Kyle Hendricks tossing eight solid innings. With the 8-4 victory, Chicago is just a win from clinching at least a tiebreaker game on Monday. Meanwhile, the Brewers were looking to keep pace with a win of their own at home against the Tigers. It wasn’t easy, but they got a go-ahead homer from Ryan Braun in the bottom of the eighth and went home with the victory. So, the Brewers remain one game back with two games to play.

National League West

The Rockies, like the Cubs, entered Friday’s action with a one-game lead in the National League. If we were looking for mass chaos in the NL, we needed them to go 0-3 this weekend to force a three-way tie between them, the Dodgers and the Cardinals. That didn’t happen, as Colorado got big days from David Dahl and Kyle Freeland en route to a 5-2 victory. With the win, the Rockies have clinched at least a wildcard spot. The Dodgers were able to keep pace on the road against their rival Giants. Los Angeles got a big home run from Justin Turner and a huge outing from Hyun-Jin Ryu, winning 3-1. Colorado maintained their one-game lead.

National League Wildcard

Just like the Central and the West, the Wildcard race was separated by a single game heading into Friday’s action. Unlike those two divisions, it didn’t stay that was after Friday’s games were complete. The Dodgers led the Cardinals by a game, but with L.A. winning and St. Louis losing to Chicago, the former is now up by two. The Dodgers just need one more win or one more Cardinals loss to clinch the playoff spot.

Current NL Playoff Picture

E: Braves (T-2)

C: Cubs (1)

W: Rockies (T-2)

WC1: Brewers (4)

WC2: Dodgers (5)