Entering play Thursday, here’s where every contending team stands with four days remaining in the regular season.
Who’s in?
Tickets already punched:
Brewers,
Phillies,
Cubs,
Dodgers,
Blue Jays,
Padres,
Yankees,
Mariners
One night after popping bottles to celebrate clinching a postseason berth, the Seattle Mariners showered each other with champagne once again. This time, to celebrate winning the AL West for the first time since 2001. If there wasn’t enough reason for the bubbly, Cal Raleigh also hammered his 60th homer of the season, putting him in rare slugging territory.
— Seattle Mariners – y (@Mariners) September 25, 2025
Who’s next?
On the brink of clinching a playoff spot:
Red Sox,
Guardians
Boston took care of business against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, decreasing its magic number for a postseason berth to one. In the process, things at the top of the AL East have turned chaotic.
Entering play Thursday, the Yankees and Blue Jays are tied atop the division with 90-68 records, and the Red Sox (three games back) are not far behind. Here’s where things get interesting: The Yankees don’t have the tiebreaker over Toronto or Boston. That puts the Yankees in need of either winning their remaining four games to claim the AL East or hoping that the Blue Jays lose out.
The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner has the official breakdown:
The Yankees are now tied with the Blue Jays for the AL East lead. Blue Jays have the tiebreaker. Four games remain. Here are the scenarios for the Yankees to win the division:
Yankees go 4-0, win division if Blue Jays go 3-1
Yankees go 3-1, win division if Blue Jays go 2-2…— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) September 25, 2025
Here’s how the season’s final four games look for the AL East clubs:
Thursday:
- White Sox at Yankees
- Red Sox at Blue Jays
Friday to Sunday:
- Orioles at Yankees
- Tigers at Red Sox
- Rays at Blue Jays
The Red Sox would need everyone else to lose and themselves to win to clinch the division. Their matchup with Detroit will be interesting because the Tigers can’t afford any more losses, either.
AL Central
| TEAM | W-L | WIN % | GB | STREAK | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
86-72 |
0.544 |
— |
W2 |
9-1 |
|
|
85-73 |
0.538 |
1 |
L8 |
1-9 |
After another win on Wednesday, the red-hot Guardians are now atop the AL Central, a division they had no chance to claim 100 days ago. The Tigers have since been relegated to the AL Wild Card — and if the season ended today, Detroit would re-match Cleveland at Progressive Field.
The still-scuffling Astros sit one game behind the Tigers for the final AL wild-card spot, needing to win out to make the postseason since Houston does not have the tiebreaker over Detroit.
Who’s locked in a race?
Things are getting tight:
Mets,
Diamondbacks,
Reds
The Diamondbacks, who have lost multiple stars to season-ending injuries and endured a trade deadline sell-off, are still in the thick of the National League playoff race, with a chance to sneak into October. Arizona currently sits one game behind the Mets after both teams lost on Wednesday. This weekend, the Mets will visit the surging Marlins, while the Diamondbacks will visit the Padres in San Diego.
NL Wild Card
| TEAM | W-L | WIN % | GB | STREAK | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
89-69 |
0.563 |
+8 |
W1 |
5-5 |
|
|
87-82 |
0.547 |
+5.5 |
L1 |
6-4 |
|
|
81-77 |
0.513 |
— |
L1 |
5-5 |
|
|
80-78 |
0.506 |
1 |
L1 |
7-3 |
|
|
80-78 |
0.506 |
1 |
L2 |
6-4 |
That’s not to mention the Reds, who continue to stay alive and are also one game back of the Mets. Cincinnati will travel next to Milwaukee to play the Brewers, who could opt to rest their stars, provided they clinch the NL’s top seed.
If the playoffs started today
American League
Toronto and Seattle would receive first-round byes after finishing as the AL’s No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. Toronto would also have home-field advantage through the ALCS for finishing with the best record in the AL. Even though the Yankees have tied the Blue Jays at the top of the East, Toronto has the tiebreaker, having won the season series 8-5.
AL Wild Card Series: No. 6 Tigers at No. 3 Guardians; No. 5 Red Sox at No. 4 Yankees
ALDS: Yankees/Red Sox at Blue Jays; Tigers/Guardians at Mariners
National League
The Brewers and Phillies would enter as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively, receiving first-round byes. Should the Brewers make it to the World Series, they’d maintain home-field advantage due to finishing the season with the sport’s best record.
NL Wild Card Series: No. 6 Mets at No. 3 Dodgers; No. 5 Padres at No. 4 Cubs
NLDS: Dodgers/Mets at Phillies, Cubs/Padres at Brewers
What to watch Thursday
Tigers at Guardians: A win could give Cleveland a two-game advantage over Detroit in the AL Central.
White Sox at Yankees: Carlos Rodón closes out the series for New York, as the club looks to keep pace with Toronto for the AL East crown.
Red Sox at Blue Jays: A Boston win would secure the Red Sox a postseason berth, while a Toronto loss would put the Blue Jays on their heels in the AL East, a division it once had a firm lead on.
Dodgers at Diamondbacks: Los Angeles would like to put the NL West away, especially given the state of its bullpen. Of course, the never-say-die Diamondbacks would love to keep their season alive.
Mets at Cubs: Chicago still hasn’t clinched the NL’s top wild-card spot, and that will spell the difference between staying home in Wrigleyville or flying to San Diego.
Rockies at Mariners: Seattle still has a chance to claim the AL’s top seed, which would ensure home-field advantage through the ALCS. Oh, and Raleigh is two homers away from tying Aaron Judge for the AL single-season record (62), making this more than just a throwaway nightcap.
(Photo of Raleigh: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
