MLB playoff tracker 2024: schedule, standings, decisive scenarios

As the final month of the 2024 MLB season approaches, some teams are already looking ahead to October.

The NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers secured their first playoff spot of the season, while the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies joined them in the following days. In the American League, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians have secured playoff spots, while the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros seem all but certain for October.

Beyond the divisional races, there are many exciting events to watch at the end of the regular season.

What's the current state of playoff matchups? Which games should you watch today? Which team will be the first to secure a postseason spot? And what's the playoff schedule? We've got everything you need to know as the regular season enters the home stretch.

Important links: Full MLB Standings | Wildcard Standings | Predictions

Who is there?

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers secured their first playoff spot of the season when they won the NL Central crown for the third time in four seasons.

New York Yankees

The Yankees secured a place in the playoffs with a win against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night and are comfortably ahead in the race for the AL East.

Cleveland Guardian

The Guardians secured a playoff spot with a win over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday and have the race for the AL Central firmly in their grasp.

Los Angeles Dodgers

With their clear 20-4 victory over the Marlins, the Dodgers secured a place in the playoffs and are moving ever closer to the NL West title.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies secured their third consecutive playoff spot with a win over the Mets on Friday night and are on the verge of their first NL East title since 2011.

Who can win next?

The Orioles' magic number to qualify for the postseason for the second consecutive year is two, and the Astros' magic number to secure the AL West is also two.

In the NL, the Padres' magic number to secure a wildcard spot is three.

What are the current MLB playoff pairings this October?

American League

Wildcard round: (6) Twins at (3) Astros, (5) Royals at (4) Orioles

ALDS: Twins/Astros vs. (2) Guardians*, Royals/Orioles vs. (1) Yankees*

Bundesliga

Wildcard round: (6) Mets at (3) Brewers*, (5) D-backs at (4) Padres

NLDS: Mets/Brewers vs. (2) Dodgers*, D-backs/Padres vs. (1) Phillies*

* – Playoff spot secured

Tiebreaker

If LA and Philadelphia have the best records, the Phillies would finish first due to their better head-to-head record with the Dodgers this season.

The head-to-head matchup of the season would determine first place in the AL if Cleveland finished the season with the best record in the league and the champion of the AL East: Guardians vs. Orioles; Yankees vs. Guardians.

If the Yankees, Orioles and Guardians all finish with the same record, Baltimore would finish first in the AL based on the three teams' records within the division.

If Baltimore and New York end up playing in a tie, the Orioles currently hold the AL East tiebreaker as they lead the Yankees 6-4 in the head-to-head season series (with three games remaining).

A tie between Atlanta and New York would currently put the Mets ahead due to their better record within the division, as the teams are tied 5-5 in the season series (with three games still to play).

If Minnesota and Detroit were to tie, the Twins would have the edge, as they won the season series head-to-head 7-6.

Analysis of the AL race

The Yankees have taken the lead over the Orioles in the battle for the AL East crown. After comfortably leading the AL Central for most of the season, the Guardians are looking to leapfrog the Royals and Twins in the battle for the division crown, while the Astros have pulled away from the Mariners in the race for the AL West. The Detroit Tigers have also entered the battle for the league's final playoff spot.

And what about these teams making it to the postseason? Here are their odds for each round:

Analysis of the NL race

Four teams have moved ahead at the top of the NL standings: The Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks are battling for the final playoff spots. The Brewers have secured the NL Central crown and the Phillies also appear to be on their way to a division title in the NL East. The Dodgers have opened up a lead in the race for the NL West and the Padres will most likely join LA in the postseason field as well.

And what about these teams making it to the postseason? Here are their odds for each round:

Match of the day

Looking for something to watch today? Here's the baseball game with the biggest playoff impact:

Playoff schedule

Wildcard Series
Best of Three, all games in the stadium of the better seeded team

Game 1: Tuesday, October 1st
Game 2: Wednesday, October 2
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 3*

Division Series
The best of five

ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, October 5
Game 2: Monday, October 7
Game 3: Wednesday, October 9
Game 4: Thursday, October 10*
Game 5: Saturday, October 12*

NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, October 5
Game 2: Sunday, October 6
Game 3: Tuesday, October 8
Game 4: Wednesday, October 9*
Game 5: Friday, October 11*

League Championship Series
The best of seven

ALCS
Game 1: Monday, October 14
Game 2: Tuesday, October 15
Game 3: Thursday, October 17
Game 4: Friday, October 18
Game 5: Saturday, October 19*
Game 6: Monday, October 21*
Game 7: Tuesday, October 22*

NLCS
Game 1: Sunday, October 13
Game 2: Monday, October 14
Game 3: Wednesday, October 16
Game 4: Thursday, October 17
Game 5: Friday, October 18*
Game 6: Sunday, October 20*
Game 7: Monday, October 21*

World Cup
The best of seven

Game 1: Friday, October 25
Game 2: Saturday, October 26
Game 3: Monday, October 28
Game 4: Tuesday, October 29
Game 5: Wednesday, October 30*
Game 6: Friday, November 1st*
Game 7: Saturday, November 2nd*

Note: If both LCSs end by October 19th – meaning neither series lasts longer than five games – the World Series will begin on Tuesday, October 22nd.

* If required