Updated 2026 MLB Playoffs Bracket Picture, Standings and Clinching Scenarios for Sept. 23
bleacherreport.com • • sports
Key Points:
- Five MLB teams—the Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres—could clinch postseason berths on Wednesday depending on game outcomes.
- Six teams have already secured playoff spots: Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox, while 13 teams have been eliminated from contention.
- The Cubs have multiple clinching scenarios, needing either a win over the Miami Marlins or a Rockies victory over the Diamondbacks to secure a playoff spot.
- The Phillies, Padres, White Sox, and Guardians also have specific win and loss combinations required on Wednesday to guarantee postseason qualification.
- The White Sox and Guardians' games will influence the AL Central division race and potential top seed with a Wild Card bye, while the Blue Jays must win both games of a doubleheader and rely on other teams' losses to stay alive.
