MLB playoffs, wild-card standings (2024)

The complete MLB playoff bracket is finalized with the Houston Astros’ 8-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. Check it out below:

Full playoff bracket

AL Wild Card Series (No. 1 Orioles and No. 2 Astros have byes)

• No. 6 Blue Jays vs. No. 3 Twins
• No. 5 Rangers vs. No. 4 Rays

NL Wild Card Series (No. 1 Braves and No. 2 Dodgers have byes)

• No. 6 Diamondbacks vs. No. 3 Brewers
• No. 5 Marlins vs. No. 4 Phillies

AL Division Series

• Rays or Rangers vs. Orioles
• Twins or Blue Jays vs. Astros

NL Division Series

• Phillies or Marlins vs. Braves
• Brewers or Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers

PHOENIX — The Astros are inevitable, a team immune to improbability amid a dynastic run that appears almost impossible to interrupt. Rancor, rivals and regression have tried to halt them to no avail, allowing the Astros to maintain more continuity than any American League club can fathom.

Yet that kind of consistency is not as effortless as this club makes it appear. No season demonstrated it more than this one. The Astros spent 23 of their first 186 days out of first place, displaying cracks in a foundation and inviting wonder if fallibility had finally arrived.

They refused to win at home, harness any consistency or handle some of the sport’s worst teams, threatening their place atop a division they’ve dominated. Five days ago, with four regular-season games remaining, FanGraphs gave Houston just 5.8 percent odds to win it and secure a first-round bye.

“In a game as tough as baseball where it’s just built on failure, you have to be able to move onto the next pitch, turn the page and bounce back, be resilient,” third baseman Alex Bregman said. “No matter what, we’ve had our ups and downs this year, but it’s a damn resilient team.”

ST. LOUIS — On an unseasonably warm first day of October, the Cardinals retired a franchise legend.

They did so with their usual celebratory grandeur; Cardinal red fanfare donned the stadium as organizational fixtures ranging from president and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. to former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa to former Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter sat in chairs surrounding home plate, all to celebrate the 18-year career of Adam Wainwright.

There were heartfelt and sincere speeches and grand gestures and gifts (including a $100,000 donation to a clean water project in Honduras in honor of Wainwright’s long-time mission projects with his charity, Big League Impact).

There was a surprise appearance by Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina. Wainwright did not know Molina coming and promptly buried his head and burst into tears when his 17-year battery mate arose from the Cardinals dugout and onto the field. There was even a puppy, one long promised to the Wainwright kids once their dad officially called it a career.

“Being a St. Louis Cardinal at all is a blessing,” Wainwright said. “But to do it for 18-plus years in front of this crowd, in this stadium and in this city, I wouldn’t change anything in the world for that.”

It reminded you of everything the Cardinals should be.

It reminded you of everything they weren’t this year.

CHICAGO — Juan Soto was walking by the visiting manager’s office late Saturday at Guaranteed Rate Field when Bob Melvin called out to his left fielder in jest. Perhaps Soto, the most durable member of the 2023 San Diego Padres, finally was due for an off day. The mock suggestion drew a hearty laugh.

“No chance!” Soto said, barely breaking stride. Everyone already knew where this was headed.

Sunday, Soto started in left field and thus made his 162nd appearance of the year. He collected his 132nd walk in the top of the first, tying Jack Clark for the franchise’s single-season record. It proved to be enough: In the top of the fourth, Melvin inserted Ji Man Choi to pinch hit for Soto, who had completed the first end-to-end season of his career.

“I’ve been grinding day in, day out to get this day,” Soto said after a 2-1, 11-inning win over the Chicago White Sox. “I feel like it was right on point.”

Up next: a decision on whether Melvin, the Padres’ second-year manager, will finish what he started — and whether president of baseball operations A.J. Preller will get a 10th full season steering the organization. Melvin, Preller and Padres ownership are expected to meet Monday at Petco Park after an 82-80 conclusion to one of the biggest letdowns in major-league history.

ATLANTA — It came down to the final inning of the 162-game schedule, and when the Braves finally got the 307th home run to put an exclamation point on their resounding, record-breaking season, it came from perhaps the last guy anyone would’ve expected five months ago would be around to hit it: Marcell Ozuna.

Many Braves followers and some media members were ready to run Ozuna out of town when he followed up his disappointing 2022 season by hitting a puny .085 with two RBIs and a .397 OPS in 18 games through the end of April. A weak-armed outfielder and designated hitter who could no longer hit, many said. DFA him, they said.

Now look at him.

“The Big Bear” capped his five-month resurgence with two homers and four RBIs in Sunday’s 10-9 loss to the Nationals. The performance included a ninth-inning solo homer that gave Ozuna 100 RBIs and a career-high 40 home runs, and gave the Braves a tie with the 2019 Twins for the single-season homer record with 307.

MILWAUKEE — Tom Ricketts made a rare clubhouse appearance before the Chicago Cubs’ season finale Sunday in Milwaukee. The team’s chairman made sure to stop by Cody Bellinger’s spot in the clubhouse and greeted him with a smile. He sat next to Dansby Swanson as the shortstop worked on a crossword puzzle, and they briefly chatted. Eventually, he found his way into David Ross’ office and the two commiserated on what could have been after a tough final month of the season.

For all the talk of 2023 being a step forward for the Cubs, count Ricketts in the camp of those who aren’t fully satisfied with the result.

“I don’t think that we want to start calling seasons we don’t make the playoffs good seasons,” Ricketts said. “That’s a consolation prize, and we don’t play for consolation prizes.”

Those words should be music to the ears of fans who don’t want to hear about incremental progress. Yes, the Cubs won nine more games than last season and finished above .500 in a full season for the first time since 2019. But like that 2019 season, it wasn’t good enough. Not to reach the postseason and not to satiate those who won’t accept anything less than playing in October.

Still, Ricketts understands it wasn’t all bad this season.

SAN FRANCISCO — A sea of blue roared when Kiké Hernández’s blast made landfall at Oracle Park. The dam broke for the San Francisco Giants long ago, but the Los Angeles Dodgers made sure to pour it on.

Call it an exclamation point, or just an affinity for a round number. But Sunday’s 5-2 season-finale victory gave the Dodgers their 100th win. They’ve reached triple digits five times in the past seven seasons, including each of the past four full campaigns (a major-league first). Before this run, the Dodgers had reached that mark just six times total in franchise history.

It’s staggering, this run of regular-season success.

“From outside the organization, I don’t think people expected that,” manager Dave Roberts said. “To go through a season with all that we went through and still come out with 100 wins, that’s very commendable.”

Roberts has called this perhaps his most challenging season as manager. Their pitching, at points, was decimated — only Clayton Kershaw remains from the club’s Opening Day rotation. Their lineup lost critical pieces from the 111-win club of a year ago. Gavin Lux, their starting shortstop, tore his ACL in spring training. Their run of dominance in the division at least appeared to have some worthy challengers.

The Dodgers clinched the National League West with weeks to go, anyway.

NEW YORK — He had thrown his final pitch in what might have been his final regular season at Citizens Bank Park, and this meant something to Aaron Nola. As he walked toward the Phillies dugout last week, he looked down at the grass. But, once he reached foul territory, the feelings were too much.

“Honestly,” Nola said, “I’ve never really tipped my cap.”

He does not show emotion. Whenever Nola acknowledges an ovation, he touches the brim of his hat. A simple gesture.

But this called for more. Nola, who will pitch Wednesday against the Marlins in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, might be in the twilight of his Phillies career. He is a free agent whenever this ride ends. Few, if any, in this postseason have as much at stake as Nola does. If he dominates in October, he’ll become one of the richest pitchers on the planet. He’ll cement a legacy as one of the greatest homegrown Phillies pitchers ever.

He has not pitched well in 2023. But his final two September starts, including the clincher last week, were better. He didn’t walk a batter in 12 2/3 innings. He kept the ball down. He felt like he was in control.

Last Tuesday, he heard people express their appreciation despite the 4.46 ERA. So, he tipped his cap for the first time ever.

BALTIMORE — As the Red Sox wrapped up another disappointing season, manager Alex Cora sat in the visitors’ dugout at Camden Yards and got introspective.

For the second straight season, the Red Sox finished in last place in the American League East. In 2022, it was to the tune of a 78-84 record. In spring training, Cora vowed 2023 would be different. After a 6-1 win over the Orioles on Sunday, the Red Sox finished with an identical 78-84 mark.

“At the end of the day, we’re disappointed,” he said. “A lot of people thought that we were going to finish last and they were right, we finished last.”

The Red Sox failed on multiple levels throughout 2023, from defense to starting pitching to overall consistency. The lack of results cost chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom his job two weeks ago, and while Cora was told by ownership last week in a sit-down meeting that he would be back next year as manager, he knows he, too, has failed too often of late.

“We have finished (last) the last two years. I have to be better. I have to improve,” said Cora, who completed his fifth season as manager. “The vote of confidence is great, but what are we doing? What am I doing to put these guys in a situation to be successful? I always said that you don’t only learn in losing situations, you learn from winning situations. But as an individual, I’ve got to be realistic. I feel like I haven’t done my job the last two years. I have to improve in a lot of things. I’ll keep that personal, that’s for me. I’m working on it. But I will be working on it in the offseason. And hopefully next year we get better results.”

DETROIT — It finally hit Terry Francona in the middle of the MGM Grand casino, in between hands of blackjack.

Following dinner with his kids and their kids, Francona joined a couple of coaches and clubhouse staffers at the casino.

“I looked (around) and I’m like, ‘Hoo boy, I won’t see these guys,’” Francona said Sunday, the final day of his 11-year tenure as the Cleveland Guardians’ manager.

On Sunday morning, Francona chipped away at a crossword puzzle.

“I’ll have it filled in later. I don’t care if it’s right, as long as they’re filled in.”

He delivered one-liners about his mortality.

“I don’t think I need to be eulogized,” he said. “Now, after my doctor appointment tomorrow, maybe.”

Josh Naylor brought him a navy No. 77 jersey signed by players and coaches. (That’s Francona’s number, though his jersey is essentially in mint condition since it has never been part of his wardrobe.)

He delivered the lineup card before the game, his 3,622nd as a major-league manager. And after it was over, the Guardians securing a 76-86 record — the worst of Francona’s run with the club — he stood in the dugout and waited for his players.

“I just needed to tell them thank you,” Francona said. “We didn’t accomplish what we set out to this year, but they didn’t shortchange anybody in effort.

“I really enjoy these guys. I just wanted them to know that. When you don’t win, sometimes you’re not able to convey that as well as you should. You shouldn’t have to win to care about guys.”

TORONTO — Standing in front of a table topped with bottles of champagne, as ski-goggle-clad players surrounded him, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider kept his postgame speech short and sweet.

“Crazy year, great jobs everybody. Ups and downs, we’re right where we should be. Let’s make a deep f—ing run at this. Congratulations to you all,” he said, before ending his message with one last expletive and ushering in the alcohol-fuelled frenzy to celebrate the Blue Jays’ much-awaited postseason berth that began in the clubhouse and extended onto the Rogers Centre field in front of several hundred fans still in the stands following Sunday’s 12-8 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

“It’s about the players,” Schneider said later about his words. “Exactly how I feel is what I said, love this opportunity for the guys, I love where they are right now. … You can’t say enough about their perseverance. We’ve been through a lot. Every team says that, but we’ve been through a lot. I just love the way they stuck together.”

The clubhouse party, which featured plenty of dancing, drinking and smoking cigars, was delayed after the Blue Jays failed to clinch via their own win on Saturday against the Rays and instead had to watch the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners later that night to earn their playoff spot.

Following the Rangers’ win, the Blue Jays group chat lit up — Matt Chapman is apparently the guy who gets everyone fired up — while the coaching staff had stayed behind to watch the game in Schneider’s office before a night out for them. But the Blue Jays saved their real clubhouse celebration for after Sunday’s lopsided loss — which felt a bit like a hangover game even if the Blue Jays partied afterward.

The Phillies are talented enough to get back to the World Series. Their offense is better than it was last year because of the addition of Trea Turner, the bounce-back year from Nick Castellanos, and the continued development of Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh. Their starting rotation remains strong behind Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker (with Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez providing good depth), but to me the bullpen, even though it’s deeper than last year, is the biggest question mark.

Over the past 30 days, Craig Kimbrel has three blown saves in six opportunities, while Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto have combined for three blown saves in four opportunities. José Alvarado has converted all four of his save opportunities during that span but also has walked seven in 11 1/3 innings. The Phillies, who have clinched the NL’s top wild-card seed, will manage their relievers in the coming days and hope that it all comes together heading into the playoffs. Perhaps Orion Kerkering, 22, can provide a big boost and be that surprise rookie who rides in on a white horse and delivers a miracle K-Rod-type postseason. He certainly has the stuff. Regardless, the back of the bullpen looks like it might be the biggest factor in how far this team goes.

Read more here.

Aaron Judge plans on meeting with Hal Steinbrenner soon, perhaps as early as this week. “Why not get that started earlier?” Judge said. “There’s no sense in waiting. Let’s get it done and get it moving to kind of put ourselves in the best position going into next season.”

Clearly, he’s going to have a lot to say, even if he has been mostly tight-lipped about it to reporters. “I think there’s some things that happened this year that opened people’s eyes,” he said. “Hopefully the right people saw it and we’ll get the right people in the room to discuss those things and figure it out.” Make no mistake: Judge will make sure the right people hear it.

The Dodgers have the second-best record in the NL and have been the second-best team in the league, led by MVP candidates Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman and resurgent veterans such as J.D. Martinez and Jason Heyward.

However, as they prepare for the playoffs, the Dodgers must face the reality that Julio Urías is on administrative leave (and has probably pitched his last game as a Dodger) and Walker Buehler, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin will spend the postseason on the injured list.

Therefore, the biggest question about this powerhouse team is whether their litter of rookie starting pitchers behind Clayton Kershaw and Lance Lynn can become a huge postseason story and carry the Dodgers — because that’s the only way they’re getting back to the World Series. Rookies Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot and Emmet Sheehan will have to deliver for the Dodgers this October if they’re going to be popping more Champagne bottles.

Read more here.

Terry Francona’s facial expression never changed, even as the montage on the video board showed footage of his dad ripping a single, of Josh Naylor head-butting him, and of Michael Brantley shaving his head.

He leaned against his padded seat on the dugout steps, slightly rocking back and forth and chewing sunflower seeds. It was as if he was attending his own wake, his final home game as manager of the Guardians, fit with the blinding spotlight he tried so desperately to avoid.

Fans packed Progressive Field clad in red shirts that read, “Thank you Tito.” When the roar from the crowd refused to dissipate, Francona finally emerged from the dugout. He lifted his cap, turned to the stands and soaked it all in. And then, despite making a slashing gesture to his coaches in an effort to halt the stream of gratitude, he was summoned again. A second curtain call, the cap to an 11-year tenure that leaves his successor with clown-sized shoes to fill.

Read the full story here.

Shortstop Wander Franco, the Rays’ best player, is on administrative leave indefinitely and not expected to play again this year. Second baseman Brandon Lowe fractured his right kneecap and center fielder Jose Siri fractured his right hand. All three might not return this season.

There are not many teams that could lose their second baseman, shortstop and center fielder and not only make the playoffs but also still have a shot to win the World Series. However, the Rays have built more depth than most teams and with Isaac Paredes moving to second base, Taylor Wells to shortstop and Manuel Margot to center field, Tampa Bay still has a chance.

The Rays are third in the AL in team ERA and second in runs. If they get enough production in the middle of the diamond, they are good enough to make it to the World Series.

Read more here.

American League scenarios

If the Rangers (90-71) win on Sunday or the Astros (89-72) lose, Texas wins the AL West.

If the Astros win and the Rangers lose, Houston wins the division.

If the Blue Jays (89-72), Astros and Rangers all finish with the same record, the Astros win the AL West, the Rangers get the second AL wild card to face the Rays and the Blue Jays get the final wild card and will face the Twins.

If the Rangers win the AL West and the Astros and Blue Jays end the season with the same record, Toronto would win the tiebreaker over Houston.

National League scenarios

The Marlins (84-76) currently hold a half-game lead over Arizona and would beat the Diamondbacks (84-77) in a tiebreaker if the teams end the regular season with the same record.

If the Marlins win on Sunday or if Arizona loses, Monday’s suspended game against the Mets would not impact the wild-card seeding and Miami would play Philadelphia in the Wild-Card Series, while Arizona would face Milwaukee.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Chicago Cubs were sitting pretty. At the end of play on Sept 6, they’d swept San Francisco in impressive fashion and their playoff odds stood at 92.4 percent. They were just 1 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the top wild-card spot and the same distance behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the division lead. All was well. Even after a tough stretch, as recently as Monday they still had a 58 percent of getting into October.

But despite taking Saturday’s game 10-6 over the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs fell short of the postseason after the Miami Marlins topped Pittsburgh to clinch a wild-card spot. With how the past few days played out, Saturday’s results felt rather anticlimactic, but it punctuates a dramatic fall in the standings for a team that seemed destined for postseason play not that long ago. The playoff field is set, and of the teams on the outside looking in, none had higher playoff odds (according to FanGraphs) at any point in the season than the Cubs did when they peaked early in September. That’s the type of gut punch that fans will likely be feeling through the winter.

“We win together and we lose together,” Yan Gomes said after the team was officially eliminated Saturday. “There was never a transfer of blame, especially with what happened towards the end. We just got cold. It wasn’t because of a lack of effort. We went out there and we gave it our best. It just didn’t work out.”

At 90-71, the Rangers enter the final day leading the Astros by one game. But the Astros hold the tiebreaker because they won the season series, 9-4. So if the Rangers lose on Sunday and the Astros win, Houston will earn its fifth division title in six seasons, the only exception being the pandemic year in 2020.

A first-round bye also is at stake, yet the Rangers were not about to let their initial accomplishment pass, not after losing 102 and 94 games the previous two seasons. In the clubhouse, manager Bruce Bochy told the players to turn it loose.

“You work too hard in spring training to pass this up. You’ve got to enjoy it. You’ve got to celebrate,” Bochy said.

The celebration featured no cigars, cellophane or chaos. Some players put on orange T-shirts telling the world the Houston Astros will “Take October,” but most stowed them away for another day. Four empty bottles of champagne sat on a table inside the visiting clubhouse at Chase Field. Four rows of flutes filled with the bubbly sat untouched beside them.

Celebrations are reserved for remarkable feats, but clinching a playoff spot has been Houston’s standard operating procedure. This is a city and club that prefers to tout pennants over playoff appearances, even if one is the first step toward the other.

“I told them that we made the playoffs, that’s one of our goals coming into spring training,” veteran catcher Martín Maldonado said. “We’ve had our ups and downs throughout the year — a lot of injuries, bad games. It was a grind. We have to keep calm. It’s a big game tomorrow. The division is still available and that was our main goal from the beginning.”

A 1-0 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday secured Houston’s seventh consecutive postseason appearance. Closed-door champagne toasts like this one celebrated most of them. Ragers are reserved for something bigger and the Astros could claim that on the final day of their confounding regular season.