MLB Projected Playoff Teams and Seeding - Through 9/24/20

Last night, the Blue Jays clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Yankees.  They are in the playoffs for the first time since 2016, when they advanced to the ALCD before losing in five games to the Indians.

Meanwhile, the White Sox's tailspin continues, as they lost for the fifth time in a row.  They're now a game behind the Twins in the AL Central, and the Indians are only two games back of the Twins.

Every team is now officially in its last series of the year.  Here's a quick look at some series that have playoff or seeding implications for both teams:

• Chicago Cubs (32-25) at Chicago White Sox (34-23).  The Crosstown Classic has taken on a sense of urgency.  While both teams have clinched playoff berths, both have struggled recently.  A week ago, the Sox had the best record in the AL and were 3.5 games ahead of the Twins in the AL Central.  Since then, they've gone 1-6, have dropped a game behind the Twins for the AL Central lead, and are only a game ahead of the third-place Indians.  Likewise, a week ago, the Cubs had the second-best record in the NL and were 4.5 games ahead of the Reds in the NL Central.  Since then, they've gone 2-5, have dropped to the projected 3-seed in the NL playoffs, and are only 2.5 games ahead of the second-place Cardinals in the NL Central.
• St. Louis Cardinals (28-26) at Milwaukee Brewers (27-29).  The Cardinals have surged into second place in the NL Central, and the Brewers have been hanging around and are two games behind the Cardinals for 2nd in the NL Central and only a game behind the Giants for the second Wild Card Spot.  This four-game series will seal both teams' fates.
• Cincinnati Reds (29-28) at Minnesota Twins (35-22).  As noted above, the Twins are now in first place in the AL Central by a game, and they are currently in position for the 2-seed in the AL playoffs.  The Reds are currently in the lead for the first Wild Card spot in the NL and are only a game behind the Cardinals for 2nd place in the NL Central.
• Miami Marlins (29-28) at New York Yankees (32-25).  The Marlins' magic number to clinch second place in the NL East is down to 2.  The Yankees are in the playoffs, but still haven't wrapped up 2nd place in the AL East.  They are two games ahead of the Blue Jays for 2nd place.  They're also 2 games behind the White Sox for the #4 seed -- and that coveted fan-free homefield advantage in the Wild Card round.
• Philadelphia Phillies (28-29) at Tampa Bay Rays (37-20).  The Rays have the best record in the AL and are looking to secure that #1 seed (which they can do with one more win).  The Phillies are a game behind the Marlins for 2nd place in the NL East and only a half game behind the Giants for the second Wild Card spot in the NL.

In the meantime, today, we could see 2 teams clinch playoff spots or division titles.

• The Astros' magic number to clinch second place in the AL West is 1, so they can get in today with a win over the Rangers or a loss by the Angels.
• The Marlins' magic number to clinch second place in the NL East is 2, so they can clinch today with a win over the Yankees and a loss by the Phillies.

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

Through the games played on September 24, here would be the playoff seeds if the season ended today.  For the magic numbers, I'm relying on the MLB Magic Numbers Twitter account.

Moved up:
-Cincinnati Reds (from #8 to #7 in NL)
-Minnesota Twins (from #3 to #2 in AL)

Moved down:
-Oakland Athletics (from #3 to #2 in AL)
-San Francisco Giants (from #7 to #8 in NL)

American League

1.  z-Tampa Bay Rays, 37-20 (.649) (1st in AL East)

2.  x-Minnesota Twins, 35-22 (.614) (1st in AL Central)
--Magic Number (win division):  3

3.  z-Oakland Athletics, 34-22 (.607) (1st in AL West)

4.  x-Chicago White Sox, 34-23 (.596) (2nd in AL Central)

--Magic Number (win division):  4

5.  x-New York Yankees, 32-25 (.561) (2nd in AL East)
6.  Houston Astros, 29-28 (.509) (2nd in AL West)

--Magic Number (playoff spot):  1

7.  x-Cleveland Indians, 33-24 (.579) (WC1 - 3rd in AL Central)
--Magic Number (win division):  6
8.  x-Toronto Blue Jays, 30-27 (.526) (WC2 - 3rd in AL East)

x - clinched playoff spot
y - clinched at least second place in division (i.e., a top six seed)
z - clinched division title
bold indicates team has clinched a specific seed

Teams eliminated from division title contention:  Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays

Teams eliminated from playoff contention:  Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers

National League

1.  z-Los Angeles Dodgers, 40-17 (.702) (1st in NL West)
2.  z-Atlanta Braves, 34-23 (.596) (1st in NL East)

3.  x-Chicago Cubs, 32-25 (.561) (1st in NL Central)

--Magic Number (win division):  3

4.  y-San Diego Padres, 34-22 (.607) (2nd in NL West)
5.  St. Louis Cardinals, 28-26 (.519) (2nd in NL Central)

--Magic Numbers (win division/clinch playoff spot):  8/4

6.  Miami Marlins, 29-28 (.509) (2nd in NL East)
--Magic Number (clinch playoff spot):  2

7.  Cincinnati Reds, 29-28 (.509) (WC1 - 3rd in NL Central)
--Magic Number (clinch playoff spot):  3

8. San Francisco Giants, 28-28 (.500) (WC2 - 3rd in NL West)
--Magic Number (clinch playoff spot):  4

x - clinched playoff spot
y - clinched at least second place in division (i.e., a top six seed)
z - clinched division title
bold indicates team has clinched a specific seed

Teams eliminated from division title contention:  Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals

Teams eliminated from playoff contention:  Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals