MLB playoff picture: Wild card standings, AL and NL postseason bracket

The Major League Baseball season nears its conclusion, with several teams vying for playoff spots. In the American League West, the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are closely contested, with the Rangers currently leading by one game. The Cleveland Guardians have taken the lead in the American League Central, but the White Sox remain in contention for a wild card spot.

In the National League, the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and Philadelphia Phillies have secured the three wild card positions, but there is only a one-game gap between them in the standings. The regular season concludes on September 27, with the best-of-three wild card series kicking off two days later. Here is the current MLB playoff bracket for the 2026 season:

American League Byes: Tampa Bay Rays (1) and Cleveland Guardians (2). The wild card series will feature the White Sox (6) against the Rangers (3), followed by the Red Sox (5) against the Yankees (4).

National League Byes: Milwaukee Brewers (1) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2). The wild card matchups will be between the Phillies (6) and Braves (3), and the Padres (5) against the Cubs (4).

In the American League, the top three teams qualify for the playoffs. The Yankees (89-66) lead with a nine-and-a-half-game advantage over the Boston Red Sox (84-72). The White Sox (80-76) follow, with Houston Astros (77-79) trailing by two games. The Toronto Blue Jays (77-80) and Baltimore Orioles (76-81) trail by three and a half and four-and-a-half games, respectively.

The National League's wild card standings also require the top three teams to advance. The Chicago Cubs (87-69) lead by one game over the San Diego Padres (87-69), who are also one game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies (86-70). The Arizona Diamondbacks (82-74) trail by four games.