MLB Playoff Picture Update: All eyes on the NL Central

American League East

The Yankees have already clinched this division.

American League Central

The Twins have already clinched this division

American League West

The Astros have already clinched this division

American League Wildcard

The teams who were set to play in Wednesday’s Wildcard Game were already set after Oakland and Tampa Bay both clinched their spots on Friday. The only thing left to play for here was to see just where this game would be played. Oakland had a small lead heading into the day, needing a win and a Rays loss to ensure it was going to be out west. The hungover Rays gave up three runs in the bottom of the first in Toronto and never recovered from there, eventually dropping a 4-1 game. Later in the night, Oakland got a big-time pitching performance from Brett Anderson and a solo homer from Ramón Laureano that proved to be the difference in a 1-0 victory. So, the Rays will indeed be traveling out to Oakland on Wednesday.

AL Playoff Picture

Here are the final seedings and Division Series matchups.

(1) Houston vs. (4)Athletics/(5) Rays

(2) Yankees vs. (3) Twins

National League East

The Braves have already clinched this division.

National League Central

All of the excitement for baseball on the final day of the season comes down to this division, and we got the excitement started on Saturday. The Cardinals had a one-game lead heading into this final series, and that held up after both clubs lost of Friday. St. Louis got into trouble early and eventually found themselves down 6-0 midway through the game. They’d make things a little more interesting, but in the end the Cubs went home with an 8-6 win. So, the Brewers just needed to take care of business in Colorado and this thing would be tied heading into the year’s final game. It looked good for most of the game, with the Brewers holding a 2-0 lead all night in part thanks to an absolutely absurd catch from Lorenzo Cain to rob Garrett Hampson of a game-tying homer.

Then, old friend Drew Pomeranz came on in the eighth and allowed a solo homer to cut the lead in half. Josh Hader would then allow another solo shot in the ninth to force extras before Trevor Story came to the plate in the tenth and walked it off. It was a heartbreaking 3-2 loss for Milwaukee. So, the Cardinals now control their own destiny on Sunday and will have their ace Jack Flaherty on the mound to try and wrap this thing up. If we’re going to have baseball on Monday — and I think we all want that — we have to root for a Cardinals loss and a Brewers win. Remember, too, that all games start at the same time today (roughly 3:00 PM ET), so there’s potential for some special drama in the early evening.

National League West

The Dodgers have already clinched this division.

National League Wildcard

This one was already wrapped up on Friday as well, with the Nationals clinching home field in Tuesday’s Wildcard Game. The only thing yet to be decided is who they’ll play, with the other wildcard being the loser of the aforementioned NL Central race.

National League Playoff Picture

(1) Dodgers vs. (4) Nationals/(5) Brewers/Cardinals

(2) Braves vs. (3) Cardinals/Brewers