MLB Projected Playoff Teams and Seeding - Through 9/17/20

We had our second and third playoff berths clinched, as the White Sox came from behind to beat the Twins, securing their first playoff appearance since 2008.  I was lucky enough to go to the "Blackout Game" that year -- the AL Central tiebreaker Game 163 when the Sox beat the Twins to clinch the division -- and then unlucky enough to attend Game 4 of the ALDS game when the Rays knocked the Sox out of the playoffs.  It was the Rays' first playoff series win as a franchise, and they ended up making it to the World Series, where they lost to the Phillies.

Speaking of the Rays, with a doubleheader sweep of the Orioles, they clinched their second playoff berth in a row.  Last year, they were a Wild Card team, beat the As in the Wild Card game, and then lost to the Astros in the ALDS.

Next in line are As and the Twins, whose magic numbers are both 2.  Technically, they could both clinch playoff berths today if they both win and the Mariners lose.

For a breakdown of the MLB playoff structure for this year and tiebreakers, click here.

Through the games played on September 17, here would be the playoff seeds if the season ended today.  
Jumped in:  None
Dropped out:  None
For the magic numbers, I'm relying on the MLB Magic Numbers Twitter account.

American League

1.  x-Chicago White Sox, 33-17 (.660) (1st in AL Central)
--Magic Number (win division):  6

2.  x-Tampa Bay Rays, 32-18 (.647) (1st in AL East)
--Magic Number (win division):  6

3.  Oakland Athletics, 31-19 (.620) (1st in AL West)
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  4/2

4.  Minnesota Twins, 31-21 (.596) (2nd in AL Central)
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  13/2

5.  New York Yankees, 29-21 (.580) (2nd in AL East)
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  14/4

6.  Houston Astros, 25-25 (.500) (2nd in AL West)
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  17/7

7.  Cleveland Indians, 27-23 (.540) (3rd in AL Central)
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  17/6
8.  Toronto Blue Jays, 26-23 (.531) (3rd in AL East)
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  17/7

x - clinched playoff spot
y - clinched division title

Teams eliminated from division title contention:  Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers

Teams eliminated from playoff contention:  None

National League

1.  x-Los Angeles Dodgers, 36-15 (.706) (1st in NL West)
--Magic Number (win division):  5

2.  Chicago Cubs, 30-20 (.600) (1st in NL Central) 
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  7/4

3.  Atlanta Braves, 29-21 (.580) (1st in NL East)
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  9/6

4.  San Diego Padres, 32-19 (.627) (2nd in NL West)
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  14/3

5.  Miami Marlins, 25-23 (.521) (2nd in NL East)
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  15/10

6.  Cincinnati Reds, 25-26 (.490) (2nd in NL Central)
--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  16/11

7.  San Francisco Giants, 25-24 (.510) (3rd in NL West) (15-17 intradivision record)

--Magic Number (Wild Card spot):  10

8.  Philadelphia Phillies, 24-25 (.490) (3rd in NL East)

--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  16/11

x - clinched playoff spot
y - clinched division title

Teams eliminated from division title contention:  Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants

Teams eliminated from playoff contention:  None