Welcome to the MLB stretch run. Just more than two weeks remain in the 2026 MLB regular season, and some teams are closing in on clinching playoff berths. The Brewers in the National League and the Rays in the American League could become the first teams to punch their postseason tickets this weekend.
While the Brewers and Dodgers seem headed to division titles in the NL Central and NL West, respectively, there are intriguing races in all three American League divisions and the NL East. The Braves are hanging on to the NL East lead and can slam the door on the Phillies this weekend as they host a three-game set at Truist Park. The Phillies are also in a battle for the top NL wild-card spot, and they entered the weekend a half-game ahead of the Cubs. The Padres and Diamondbacks have both heated up recently as they jostle for the sixth and final playoff spot in the NL.
In the American League, each division race is within three games. The Rays are trying to hold off the Yankees, who finally got Aaron Judge back from injury, in the AL East, the White Sox have an edge over the Guardians in the AL Central and the Astros are trying to pull away from the Rangers and Mariners in the AL West. And the chase for the final AL wild-card spot is the most muddled race in baseball. The Guardians, barely above .500, currently hold that position.
Now, let’s get you caught up on the bracket, standings and more. All division and postseason projections referenced in the standings come from SportsLine.
2026 MLB playoff picture, bracket
If the season ended today…
American League
Byes: No. 1 Rays, No. 2 White Sox
Wild Card Series: No. 3 Astros vs. No. 6 Guardians, No. 4 Yankees vs. No. 5 Red Sox
National League
Byes: No. 1 Brewers, No. 2 Dodgers
Wild Card Series: No. 3 Braves vs. No. 6 Padres, No. 4 Phillies vs. No. 5 Cubs
American League standings
National League standings
Clinched division – x
Clinched wild-card – y
Clinched playoff berth – z
Eliminated – e
MLB wild-card standings
| New York Yankees | 84 | 62 | +10.5 |
| Boston Red Sox | 80 | 67 | +6.0 |
| Cleveland Guardians | 74 | 73 | — |
| ——————— | ——- | ——- | ———- |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 73 | 74 | 1.0 |
| Texas Rangers | 72 | 75 | 2.0 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 71 | 76 | 3.0 |
| Minnesota Twins | 69 | 77 | 4.5 |
| Seattle Mariners | 69 | 78 | 5.0 |
| Detroit Tigers | 67 | 79 | 6.5 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 82 | 65 | +3.5 |
| Chicago Cubs | 81 | 66 | +2.5 |
| San Diego Padres | 78 | 68 | — |
| ——————— | ——- | ——- | ——- |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 78 | 69 | 0.5 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 74 | 73 | 4.5 |
| Miami Marlins | 72 | 75 | 6.5 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 72 | 75 | 6.5 |
2026 World Series odds
Via Caesars as of Sept. 10
- Dodgers: +175
- Brewers: +650
- Yankees: +800
- Rays: +900
- Braves: +1400
- Red Sox: +1400
- Phillies: +1400
- Cubs: +1800
- White Sox: +2000
- Astros: +2000
- Guardians: +2500
- Blue Jays: +2800
- Diamondbacks: +3500
- Padres: +3500
- Rangers: +5000
- Mariners: +10000
- Orioles: +20000
- Cardinals: +30000
- Twins: +30000
- Pirates: +30000
- Tigers: +40000
- Marlins: +40000
