October Bound: Key Teams Battling for MLB Playoff Spots

August 25, 2024

By Carter Rennyson

The MLB playoffs are just around the corner, and some division races are tighter than others. This season has produced electric moments, including Shohei Ohtani’s walk-off grand slam to join the 40-40 club, Aaron Judge becoming the fastest player to hit 300 home runs, and Blake Snell’s epic 15-strikeout performance. With just over a month to go in the season, let’s take a look at the current standings and see which teams will be in and which will be out come Oct. 1.

AL East

The Yankees and Orioles will be battling for the AL East crown over the last month of the season. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have been smashing home runs all season and will look to bring a World Series title back to the Bronx. The Orioles were the No. 1 seed in the American League last season before being swept by the Rangers. This year, Baltimore has the pitching of Corbin Burnes to lean on, and the bats of Anthony Santander and Gunnar Henderson have been hot all season. The Red Sox are the first team out of the AL wild-card standings and will need to make a run to make the postseason.

AL Central

The Guardians have led the AL Central for months but currently have just a two-game cushion over the Twins and Royals. Last season, the Twins were the only team to qualify for the playoffs, but this year it looks like three teams will qualify. Bobby Witt Jr. has blossomed into a superstar for the Royals this season and leads the league in hits and batting average. Meanwhile, the Twins have a great offense, which has helped them in their quest to return to the playoffs. This will be an interesting division to watch over the last month to see if the Guardians are caught by either the Twins or Royals.

AL West

The biggest storyline in this division is that the defending champs are going to miss the playoffs. The Rangers have dealt with injuries and have had a less-than-stellar bullpen this season. The Astros got hot in the summer, passed the Mariners, and never looked back. Houston holds a 4½-game lead over Seattle and looks to be in control of the AL West. Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve continue to be the leaders of this Houston team, which could qualify for its eighth straight postseason.

NL East

The Phillies and Braves have been the top teams in this division for the past couple of years, and it has been the same story this season. The Phillies have a sizable lead over the Braves and are looking to take the NL East crown back from Atlanta. The Mets are just two games back of the Braves for the final wild-card spot in the National League. New York missed the postseason last year after making it in 2022. Francisco Lindor has been on fire recently and has put his name into MVP conversations in the NL. The Phillies seem to be one of the more complete teams in the NL and will compete with the Dodgers and Brewers for the No. 1 seed the rest of the way.

NL Central

The Brewers have won eight of their last 10 games and have a 10½-game lead over the Cardinals. The Brewers have been led by William Contreras, Willy Adames, and Rhys Hoskins and will look to improve upon their early exit at the hands of the Diamondbacks last playoffs. The Cubs and Cardinals are both five games out of the final wild-card spot and will have to go on a run to make the playoffs. Milwaukee can get the No. 1 seed if it keeps up this stellar play over the last month of the season.

NL West

The Dodgers have tons of star players such as Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Mookie Betts, Jack Flaherty, and NL MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani. Los Angeles has won the division 10 of the last 11 years but is in jeopardy of giving up its lead late in the season. Both the Padres and Diamondbacks have gone on torrid stretches since the All-Star break. The Diamondbacks are looking to return to the World Series after their surprise run last season, while the Padres are eager to build on their 2022 run to the NLCS. The Dodgers are currently the favorites to win the World Series but have some competition in the NL West title race.

The MLB postseason is always entertaining and produces incredible moments. This year should be no exception. In recent years, the top teams have exited early, and there have been some deep runs by wild-card teams. Will there be another year of upsets, or will top teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, or Phillies break through for a World Series title? It will be an exciting fall with postseason baseball and the beginning of the NFL, NBA, and NHL seasons. Be sure to download our app to stay informed of all our free sports betting picks.