MLB Playoff Picture Update 9/30: It all comes down to the last day

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

The Yankees have clinched the top wildcard spot. The Athletics have clinched the second wildcard spot.

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

The Cubs came into the day on Saturday needing a win to guarantee at least a tie in the NL Central and needing a win and a Brewers loss to clinch all together. First thing was first, and that was getting the win against St. Louis. That proved easier said than done. The Cardinals got a great start from Miles Mikolas and held on for a 2-1 win. So, with the Cubs going down, the Brewers were suddenly a win away from tying the division. It wasn’t always easy, but they have Christian Yelich to carry them. The likely NL MVP winner smashed two homers on Saturday including a game-winner in the seventh to knot up the Central. If the two teams both either win or lose on Sunday, they’ll play a tiebreaker on Monday with the winner going to the NLDS and the loser hosting the Wildcard Game.

National League West

Just like the Central, the West was separated by just one game heading into Saturday’s action, with the Rockies being the team who was trying to clinch things with a win and a Dodgers loss. They were not even competitive on that quest. Washington jumped out to a 5-0 lead after an inning-and-a-half, and Stephen Strasburg did the rest leading the way to a ten-run victory for the Nats. So, suddenly the Dodgers could tie things up in the West with a win in San Francisco. Things were tied heading into the eighth, but then Manny Machado put Los Angeles up in the top half of the eighth before the Dodgers got four more in the ninth to wrap up the victory. Just like in the Central, if these two teams have the same result on Sunday they’ll play in a tiebreaker on Monday. If not, the loser will travel for the Wildcard Game with the winner playing the Braves in the NLDS.

National League Wildcard

The Dodgers winning wasn’t just big in their quest to win the National League West, but it also wrapped up a playoff spot for Los Angeles. The Cardinals, despite winning on Saturday, saw themselves knocked out of postseason contention. So, the Wildcard Game will be hosted by either the Cubs or Brewers and they’ll be facing off against either the Dodgers or Rockies.

Current NL Playoff Picture

E: Braves* (3)

C: Cubs/Brewers (1)

W: Rockies/Dodgers (2)

WC1: Brewers/Cubs (4)

WC2: Dodgers/Rockies (5)