With three days remaining within the 2023 common season, a lot stays to be settled within the wild card races, in each the Nationwide and American Leagues.
The Max Chaos situations that appeared fingers-crossed doable for the previous few weeks have disappeared, with the Giants falling aside down the stretch and Texas taking management of the AL West. Oh effectively.
Nonetheless, although, it’s very doable — possible, even — that Sport 162 will matter for a number of groups, with playoff berths on the road. As a result of, keep in mind, below the brand new CBA, there are not any tie-breaking video games, solely tie-breaking situations, to find out who makes the playoffs and who misses the postseason.
Here is an up to date take a look at the MLB playoff clinching situations for each the American and Nationwide leagues coming into the ultimate weekend of video games for the 2023 common season.
MORE: Explaining how MLB playoff tiebreakers will work in 2023
MLB playoff situations 2023
Nationwide League Wild Card standings
Three groups get in through wild playing cards, in fact, and the Phillies have already clinched the highest wild-card spot, which means there are two spots accessible for 4 groups.
- Diamondbacks: 84-75, +1.5
- Marlins: 82-76 —
- Cubs: 82-77, 0.5 GB
- Reds: 81-78, 1.5 GB
Arizona Diamondbacks
Remaining three video games: Dwelling vs. Astros
Arizona’s within the driver’s seat, however the lead may have been extra comfy had the D-backs managed greater than three hits in a 3-1 loss to the 98-loss White Sox on Thursday. Or, had they not given away leads of 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3 in a loss to the Yankees on Monday. You’ll discover shortly they’re not the one wild-card hopeful coughing up leads, although. And the D-backs have the hardest three video games remaining, a somewhat fascinating sequence towards the Astros. Houston, in fact, is combating to remain alive within the AL playoff race, which suggests the house workforce gained’t be dealing with minor-leaguers making an attempt to impress on the mound and rookies getting further ABs.
Miami Marlins
Remaining three video games: At Pirates
One factor the Marlins have going for them: They personal just about each wild-card tiebreaker, due to head-to-head benefits towards the Cubs and Diamondbacks, and proudly owning the second tiebreaker towards the Reds. The stretch drive hasn’t precisely been clean for the Marlins, however they’ve proven to be very resilient, not letting large defeats carry into the subsequent day. They’re 15-9 in September, regardless of getting outscored in these 9 losses by a complete rating of 66-14. They usually’ve made the run with ace Sandy Alcantara on the IL. It’s actually spectacular. Now, how do they rebound from that rain-delayed, suspended-game debacle in New York on Thursday night time? Sheesh.
Chicago Cubs
Remaining three video games: At Brewers
The Cubs appeared to have a wild-card spot principally locked up in early September, however they misplaced 10 of 13 video games — together with six of seven to the Diamondbacks — in a stretch that put every part doubtful. And that sequence in Atlanta, shedding all three video games by a complete of 4 runs? Kinda brutal. Self-inflicted, however brutal nonetheless. Know what else is brutal? The Cubs personal zero tiebreakers, which means they must completed one recreation forward of a minimum of two of the 4 groups to remain within the combine. So, basically, they begin the weekend not a half-game again of the Marlins, however 1 1/2 video games behind the fish.
The Brewers would most likely take a bit of enjoyment in preserving the division-rival Cubs out of the postseason with a pair wins within the final three video games, however they gained’t ask for max effort from their finest pitchers to make that occur. Even when Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta begin video games in that sequence, they’ll virtually definitely be on restricted pitch counts to verify they’re contemporary for the postseason.
Cincinnati Reds
Remaining three video games: At Cardinals
Massive image, it’s a tribute to the Reds that they’re nonetheless on this place, what with all of the accidents and rookies and normal craziness of this season. It additionally looks like it is a franchise that can be again within the playoff image frequently going ahead. However, of us, Cincinnati has a pair simply brutal losses recently. On Sept. 20, Hunter Greene struck out 14 Twins and left the sport with a 3-1 lead, solely to observe the bullpen blow the lead. Very subsequent recreation, the Reds gave up leads of 1-0, 3-2 and 5-4 in a loss to the Pirates. That appeared trivial in comparison with the very subsequent night time, the place they constructed a 9-0 lead by the third inning, solely to lose, 13-12.
American League Wild Card standings
The AL standings are a bit extra advanced, contemplating that the Rangers are main the West however nonetheless haven’t clinched something but. Their loss to the Mariners on Thursday — drama, y’all — saved their standing doubtful, a minimum of a little bit bit. The Rays, in fact, clinched the highest AL wild card spot way back, leaving two up for grabs.
- Rangers: 89-70, +2 AL West
- Blue Jays: 88-71, +1
- Astros: 87-72 —
- Mariners: 86-73, 1 GB
Texas Rangers
Remaining three video games: At Seattle
The Rangers did a fantastic job rebounding from what seemed to be a season-dooming swoon. From Aug. 16 to Sept. 8, they went simply 4-16. They went from main the West by 3 1/2 video games to three out of the division race and 1 1/2 video games out of the third wild-card spot. The sky was falling. Since then, although? They’re 13-6, finest file within the AL. It appears unlikely that they’d lose all 4 video games in Seattle to finish the season — they may have clinched a playoff berth if Aroldis Chapman had not imploded within the ninth on Thursday — however we’ve seen sufficient from that Texas bullpen to know no lead is secure.
Toronto Blue Jays
Remaining three video games: Dwelling, vs. Rays
The Jays are enjoying a workforce locked into its playoff place, however enjoying the Rays is rarely simple, as each workforce within the league can attest. Principally, Jays followers are rooting arduous for the Rangers, as a result of if it comes all the way down to the Jays vs. the Mariners for the ultimate spot, the Jays go residence. The Jays have to be ok with how their rotation is ready up, with Yusei Kikuchi set for Friday, Hyun Jin Ryu scheduled for Saturday and ace Kevin Gausman lined as much as begin Sport 162, if their playoff standing is doubtful.
Houston Astros
Remaining three video games: At Diamondbacks
As we stated earlier, that sequence in Arizona ought to be all types of enjoyable, with the video games which means a lot to each groups. That the Astros are on this place of uncertainty is a bit stunning. They’d taking management of the West, with the Rangers’ swoon, proudly owning a 2 1/2-game lead within the division after a win on Sept. 10. Since then, although, they’re simply 5-10, together with an anemic 2-7 file towards the A’s and Royals, the 2 AL groups with 100-plus losses. The Astros did take two of three from the Mariners in an enormous sequence in Seattle this week, although, maybe saving their season. They had been off on Thursday, absolutely a much-needed day of relaxation.
Seattle Mariners
Remaining three video games: Dwelling, vs. Rangers
Right here’s what it’s essential to find out about Seattle’s terrible September, after an unbelievable August: The Mariners are 4-13 this month when enjoying groups over .500, together with Thursday’s dramatic ninth-inning comeback win towards the Rangers. Onerous to get into the postseason to compete towards the most effective groups when you’ll be able to’t beat the most effective groups. However at this level, haven’t we discovered that beating the chances and overcoming seemingly unimaginable odds are two issues these Mariners do very effectively?