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The MLB playoff picture is coming into focus with the New York Yankees in the field after Wednesday’s win over the Seattle Mariners.
New York Yankees @Yankees
The First Step. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/YRbIEpVc8g
New York is the second team to clinch a berth in the postseason, joining the Milwaukee Brewers (who clinched the National League Central on Wednesday). The Bronx Bombers have been in a fight with the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot in the AL East all season. Those two teams, along with the Cleveland Guardians, are still battling for the best overall record in the AL.
Here are the updated playoff standings and potential matchups through Wednesday’s games.
Projected American League Playoff Matchups
- First-round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland Guardians
- Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Minnesota Twins, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals
Projected National League Playoff Matchups
- First-round bye: No. 1 Philadelphia Phillies, No. 2 Los Angeles Dodgers
- Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 New York Mets, No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 Arizona Diamondbacks
After a midseason lull, the Yankees appear to be finding positive momentum at the right time.
Current Standings
AL East
- New York Yankees (89-63)*
- Baltimore Orioles (84-68, 5 GB)
- Boston Red Sox (76-76, 13 GB)
- Tampa Bay Rays (74-78, 15 GB)
- Toronto Blue Jays (72-80, 17 GB)
AL Central
- Cleveland Guardians (88-65)
- Kansas City Royals (82-71, 6 GB)
- Minnesota Twins (80-72, 7.5 GB)
- Detroit Tigers (80-73, 8 GB)
- Chicago White Sox (36-117, 52 GB)
AL West
- Houston Astros (82-70)
- Seattle Mariners (77-75, 5 GB)
- Texas Rangers (73-79, 9 GB)
- Oakland Athletics (67-86, 15.5 GB)
- Los Angeles Angels (62-90, 20 GB)
AL Wild Card
- Baltimore Orioles (84-68, +4 Games)
- Kansas City Royals (82-71, +1.5 Games)
- Minnesota Twins (80-72)
- Detroit Tigers (80-73, 0.5 GB)
- Seattle Mariners (77-75, 3 GB)
- Boston Red Sox (76-76, 4 GB)
- Tampa Bay Rays (74-78, 7 GB)
NL East
- Philadelphia Phillies (91-61)
- New York Mets (84-68, 7 GB)
- Atlanta Braves (82-70, 9 GB)
- Washington Nationals (68-84, 23 GB)
- Miami Marlins (56-96, 35 GB)
NL Central
- Milwaukee Brewers (88-64)**
- Chicago Cubs (77-75, 11 GB)
- St. Louis Cardinals (77-75, 11 GB)
- Cincinnati Reds, (74-79, 14.5 GB)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (71-81, 17 GB)
NL West
- Los Angeles Dodgers (90-62)
- San Diego Padres (87-66, 3.5 GB)
- Arizona Diamondbacks (84-68, 6 GB)
- San Francisco Giants (74-78, 16 GB)
- Colorado Rockies (59-94, 31.5 GB)
NL Wild Card
- San Diego Padres (87-66, +2.5 Games)
- Arizona Diamondbacks (84-68)
- New York Mets (84-68)
- Atlanta Braves (82-70, 2 GB)
- Chicago Cubs (77-75, 7 GB)
- St. Louis Cardinals (77-75, 7 GB)
*Denotes clinched playoff spot
**Denotes clinched division
Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are the best offensive duo in the AL. They have combined for 93 homers and 239 RBI. Jazz Chisholm Jr. has provided some much-needed punch in the middle of the order with a .289/.344/.514 slash line in 37 games since being acquired from the Miami Marlins.
New York’s primary competition in the AL could end up being the Kansas City Royals. Their offseason spending to add Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha has paid huge dividends. The Royals rotation leads all of MLB in FanGraphs’ wins above replacement (16.6) and ranks second in ERA (3.56).
If the Royals can avoid a bullpen implosion and Bobby Witt Jr. carries the lineup, they have the makings of a dangerous playoff team. The Orioles are the only AL contender whose offense can match New York, but that unit has struggled since the All-Star break.
Cleveland is an impossible team to figure out because the starting rotation is the worst in the AL, but that’s been offset because the team has the best bullpen in the entire league.
The Yankees have late-game concerns because of their bullpen issues, though manager Aaron Boone has done a good job of being more creative with matchups rather than locking people into set roles.
Clay Holmes is going to be the biggest question mark with an MLB-high 13 blown saves. If his struggles continue, Boone shouldn’t hesitate to find another option for the ninth inning.
Overall, though, it’s hard not to feel good about the Yankees’ chances of getting to the World Series for the first time since 2009. The lineup is terrific, especially at the top, and they will make it difficult on any pitching staff they will see in a short series.
