Updated MLB Playoff picture after Twins beat Rangers and Guardians get swept
Here's where things stand after Minnesota got a huge assist over the weekend from the Brewers.
With fewer than 40 games left in the season, the race for the AL Central title is going to heat up like we haven't yet seen this year. Minnesota Twins fans are already counting down the magic number, which lets you know exactly what time of year it is.
Catching the Guardians is the first order of business, though. Minnesota fell just a few innings shy of pulling within a game of Cleveland, but a Jorge Alcala meltdown stood in the way. Still, the Twins winning three out of four against the Rangers while the Guardians got swept by Milwaukee has significantly narrowed things atop the division.
MLB Postseason bracket if the season ended today
There's still a ton of season left, but the playoff picture is going to start coming into focus as each remaining series wraps up. The biggest one on Minnesota's radar is a four-game series in September against the Guardians that is shaping up to be for all the AL Central marbles -- or open up a path for the Royals to sneak into first place.
Here's how things stand now, though:
Seed | Team | Proj. Finish |
|---|---|---|
1 | Baltimore Orioles | AL East winner |
2 | Cleveland Guardians | AL Central winner |
3 | Houston Astros | AL West winner |
4 | New York Yankees | Wild Card 1 |
5 | Minnesota Twins | Wild Card 2 |
6 | Kansas City Royals | Wild Card 3 |
The top two seeds in each league get a first-round bye and won't have to play in the Wild Card. Based on that, here's what the first round matchups would be:
- (3) Houston Astros vs. (6) Kansas City Royals
- (4) New York Yankees vs. (5) Minnesota Twins
This is going to change before the season is over, though. Beyond what the Twins and Guardians are cooking up as far as a sprint to the finish, the Orioles and Yankees are in a dead heat in the AL East for what could be the No. 1 seed.
Updated AL Wild Card standings (August 19th)
Right now the magic number Twins fans should be watching is 33. That's the distance Minnesota has left to run in terms of clinching a Wild Card berth and would guaruntee a finish no lower than sixth in the American League.
That's the bare minumum, though, and the team has its sights set much higher. If the AL Central crown is out of reach, the Twins will be trying to chase the No. 4 seed which would give them home field advantage in the Wild Card round -- much like last year, albeit not as division winners.
Here's where things stand:
Team | Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
New York Yankees | 73-52 | — |
Minnesota Twins | 70-54 | — |
Kansas City Royals | 69-55 | — |
Boston Red Sox | 65-58 | 3.5 |
Seattle Mariners | 64-61 | 5.5 |
Tampa Bay Rays | 62-61 | 6.5 |
Detroit Tigers | 61-64 | 8.5 |
The Royals have a pretty decent hold on the No. 6 seed but have Boston not far behind. Seattle isn't out of it yet either as the Wild Card chase is matching the division title fights in intensity. Even the Tigers are still alive, hanging just 8.5 games back of the Royals which highlights just how possible almost any outcome is.
Well, every outcome except for the White Sox getting in. Chicago is the first team to be mathematically eliminated, even if spiritually they've been done since Opening Day.
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