MLB in the Red Hot! Playoffs on the Horizon
The end of the MLB regular season is here, and the excitement is at its peak. With several teams already qualified, the fight for the playoffs intensifies every day. At Alofoke Deportes we keep you informed of everything.Qualified Teams and Aspirants
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs have already secured their place in the postseason, with the Brewers also taking the NL Central title. The Philadelphia Phillies were crowned NL East champions, while the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fifth consecutive NL West title on Thursday. In the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays were the first team to secure their spot in the playoffs, followed by the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners. The Cleveland Guardians have revolutionized the American League playoff scene with an impressive streak in September, becoming serious contenders in both the AL Central and the wild card race.Who already have their place secured?
These are the teams that already have a place in the postseason:
Contents
- Milwaukee Brewers: Secured their spot on September 13th and won their third consecutive NL Central title.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Secured their spot on September 14th and won the NL East title for the second year in a row.
- Chicago Cubs: Sealed their pass on September 17th.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Won the NL West title for the 12th time in 13 years.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Were the first AL team to secure a spot.
- San Diego Padres: Secured their fourth playoff appearance in six years.
- New York Yankees: The second AL team to qualify.
- Seattle Mariners: Secured their first playoff appearance since 2022 and won the AL West title.
- Boston Red Sox: Secured a spot in the AL Wild Card.
Upcoming Possible Qualifiers
The excitement continues as the teams fight to secure their place. These are the possible scenarios:- The Blue Jays can clinch the AL East and the No. 1 seed in the AL with a win AND a Yankees loss.
- The Guardians can clinch the AL Central with a win AND a Tigers loss.
- Both the Tigers and the Guardians can clinch a playoff spot with a win OR an Astros loss.
- The Reds can clinch a playoff spot with a win AND a Mets loss.
- The Brewers can clinch the No. 1 seed in the NL with a win OR a Phillies loss.
- The Cubs can clinch home-field advantage in the wild card series with a win AND a Padres loss.
Possible Playoff Matchups
These are the possible playoff matchups:
American League
- Wild Card Round: (6) Tigers vs. (3) Guardians, (5) Red Sox vs. (4) Yankees
- ALDS: Tigers/Guardians vs. (2) Mariners, Red Sox/Yankees vs. (1) Blue Jays
National League
- Wild Card Round: (6) Reds vs. (3) Dodgers, (5) Padres vs. (4) Cubs
- NLDS: Reds/Dodgers vs. (2) Phillies, Padres/Cubs vs. (1) Brewers
Tiebreaker Scenarios
These are the tiebreaker scenarios for the teams:
AL East Teams
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Win tiebreaker: Mariners, Yankees
- Lose tiebreaker: N/A
- New York Yankees
- Win tiebreaker: Mariners
- Lose tiebreaker: Blue Jays
- Boston Red Sox
- Win tiebreaker: Guardians
- Lose tiebreaker: N/A
AL Central Teams
- Cleveland Guardians
- Win Tiebreaker: Astros, Tigers
- Lose Tiebreaker: Red Sox
- Detroit Tigers
- Win Tiebreaker: Astros
- Lose Tiebreaker: Guardians
AL West Teams
- Seattle Mariners
- Win tiebreaker: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker: Blue Jays, Yankees
- Houston Astros
- Win tiebreaker: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker: Guardians, Tigers
NL East Teams
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Win tiebreaker: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker: Brewers
- New York Mets
- Win tiebreaker: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker: Reds
NL Central Teams
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Win Tiebreaker: Phillies
- Lose Tiebreaker: N/A
- Chicago Cubs
- Win Tiebreaker: N/A
- Lose Tiebreaker: Padres
NL West Teams
- San Diego Padres
- Win tiebreaker: Cubs
- Lose tiebreaker: N/A
Race Analysis
The Blue Jays are looking to keep the Yankees at bay for the top spot in the AL and the division title, while the Red Sox are also classified as wild cards. The Mariners broke away from the Astros in the AL West to win their first division title since 2001. The Guardians are competing with the Tigers in the AL Central, while also in a tight fight for the last wild card spot. In the National League, the Brewers were the first team to secure their spot in October, followed by the Phillies and the Dodgers. The Cubs and Padres have clinched wild card spots, with the Mets and Reds battling for the final spot.Playoffs Schedule
Here is the MLB playoffs schedule:Wild Card Series
Best of three, all games at the stadium of the team with the better seed.- Game 1: Tuesday, September 30th
- Game 2: Wednesday, October 1st
- Game 3: Thursday, October 2nd*
Divisional Series
Best of five- ALDS
- Game 1: Saturday, October 4
- Game 2: Sunday, October 5
- Game 3: Tuesday, October 7
- Game 4: Wednesday, October 8*
- Game 5: Friday, October 10*
- NLDS
- Game 1: Saturday, October 4
- Game 2: Monday, October 6
- Game 3: Wednesday, October 8
- Game 4: Thursday, October 9*
- Game 5: Saturday, October 11*
League Championship Series
Best of seven- ALCS
- Game 1: Sunday, October 12
- Game 2: Monday, October 13
- Game 3: Wednesday, October 15
- Game 4: Thursday, October 16
- Game 5: Friday, October 17*
- Game 6: Sunday, October 19*
- Game 7: Monday, October 20*
- NLCS
- Game 1: Monday, October 13
- Game 2: Tuesday, October 14
- Game 3: Thursday, October 16
- Game 4: Friday, October 17
- Game 5: Saturday, October 18*
- Game 6: Monday, October 20*
- Game 7: Tuesday, October 21*
World Series
Best of seven- Game 1: Friday, October 24th
- Game 2: Saturday, October 25th
- Game 3: Monday, October 27th
- Game 4: Tuesday, October 28th
- Game 5: Wednesday, October 29th*
- Game 6: Friday, October 31st*
- Game 7: Saturday, November 1st*
* If necessary
