MLB Standings: Brewers Lead Baseball as Playoff Races Tighten Entering September
With August nearing its end, the Major League Baseball playoff picture is beginning to take shape. Some division leaders have created substantial cushions, while several wild-card races remain close enough that a strong or poor week could dramatically change the postseason field.
Following the completion of all 15 games on Friday, August 28, the Milwaukee Brewers own the best record in Major League Baseball at 84-51. Milwaukee’s .622 winning percentage puts the Brewers three games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best overall record. The Brewers also have an impressive plus-178 run differential, having scored 674 runs while allowing only 496.
MLB’s Top Teams
Here is a snapshot of the teams currently leading each division:
| Division | Leader | Record | Winning % |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL East | Tampa Bay Rays | 80-54 | .597 |
| AL Central | Chicago White Sox | 71-63 | .530 |
| AL West | Houston Astros | 68-67 | .504 |
| NL East | Atlanta Braves | 80-55 | .593 |
| NL Central | Milwaukee Brewers | 84-51 | .622 |
| NL West | Los Angeles Dodgers | 81-54 | .600 |
Milwaukee sits atop not only the National League Central but all of baseball. The Dodgers are second overall at 81-54, while Tampa Bay is the top team in the American League at 80-54. Atlanta is close behind at 80-55.
Brewers Have Baseball’s Best Record
Milwaukee has established an eight-game advantage over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Cubs remain a strong 76-59, but the Brewers have separated themselves from the rest of the division.
Milwaukee’s dominance is also reflected in run differential. The Brewers have outscored opponents by 178 runs this season. The Dodgers are at plus-149, the Cubs plus-117 and the Braves plus-115.
The Brewers also entered the final weekend of August on a three-game winning streak and have gone 7-3 over their last 10 games.
Dodgers Control the NL West
Los Angeles improved to 81-54 with Friday’s 2-1 victory over Detroit and holds a nine-game advantage over San Diego.
The Padres sit at 72-63, but their most immediate concern may soon become protecting their wild-card position rather than chasing Los Angeles for the division.
Arizona is 72-64, just one-half game behind San Diego. That makes the Diamondbacks one of the teams to watch closely as September approaches.
Braves Hold Five-Game Lead Over Phillies
Atlanta has quietly built one of baseball’s best records. The Braves improved to 80-55 on Friday and have won five consecutive games.
Philadelphia remains very much in postseason position at 75-60, but the Phillies trail Atlanta by five games in the NL East. Miami is a distant third at 68-67.
The division could still change over the final month, but the Braves currently have a significant advantage and are positioned to enter September as one of the National League’s strongest teams.
Tampa Bay Leads the American League
The Rays are No. 1 in the American League at 80-54 after Friday’s 9-4 victory over San Diego.
New York remains Tampa Bay’s closest challenger in the AL East. The Yankees improved to 76-58 with their 1-0 win over Boston and sit four games behind the Rays.
Boston is 73-61 and seven games behind Tampa Bay. Although the Red Sox are losing ground in the division, they remain in a strong wild-card position.
The Yankees have also produced one of the American League’s best run differentials at plus-101. Boston is right behind at plus-100, making the AL East considerably stronger than the division standings alone might suggest.
White Sox Hold the AL Central
The Chicago White Sox are one of the more interesting stories in the American League.
Chicago improved to 71-63 with Friday’s 7-4 victory over Minnesota and leads Cleveland by 3½ games in the AL Central. The Guardians are 68-67.
Cleveland, however, remains extremely important to the postseason race because it currently occupies the third American League wild-card position.
Astros Lead a Wide-Open AL West
The tightest division race may be in the AL West.
Houston leads at 68-67, but Texas is only two games behind at 66-69. Seattle remains within striking distance at 64-71, four games behind Houston.
The Astros are therefore in an unusual position. Their .504 winning percentage is the lowest of any current division leader, but winning the AL West would still guarantee Houston a postseason berth.
That makes September’s divisional games particularly important for Houston, Texas and Seattle.
American League Wild-Card Race
If the season ended with the current standings, the Yankees, Red Sox and Guardians would hold the three American League wild-card positions.
| Team | Record | Wild-Card Position |
|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees | 76-58 | WC1 |
| Boston Red Sox | 73-61 | WC2 |
| Cleveland Guardians | 68-67 | WC3 |
| Texas Rangers | 66-69 | 2 GB |
| Baltimore Orioles | 66-69 | 2 GB |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 66-70 | 2.5 GB |
| Minnesota Twins | 64-71 | 4 GB |
| Seattle Mariners | 64-71 | 4 GB |
Cleveland’s hold on the final position is far from secure. Texas and Baltimore are only two games behind, while Toronto is 2½ back.
That means at least six American League teams remain realistically involved in the fight for the final wild-card position.
National League Wild-Card Race
The National League race is even more intriguing near the cutoff.
| Team | Record | Wild-Card Position |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs | 76-59 | WC1 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 75-60 | WC2 |
| San Diego Padres | 72-63 | WC3 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 72-64 | 0.5 GB |
| Miami Marlins | 68-67 | 4 GB |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 68-68 | 4.5 GB |
Arizona’s 10-6 victory over San Francisco on Friday moved the Diamondbacks to within just a half-game of San Diego.
The Cubs and Phillies have more comfortable cushions, but neither club can afford a prolonged losing streak. Chicago has lost three straight, while Philadelphia has won eight of its last 10.
What the Standings Mean for the Playoffs
Under MLB’s current postseason format, six teams from each league qualify. The three division champions receive playoff spots, along with three wild-card teams. The two division winners with the best records in each league receive first-round byes, while the remaining division champion and three wild-card teams play in the Wild Card Series.
If the standings remain close to where they are now, Milwaukee and Los Angeles would be in excellent position for the National League’s two first-round byes. Atlanta would then enter the Wild Card Series despite currently owning the fourth-best record in all of baseball.
In the American League, Tampa Bay has the strongest position. The White Sox currently have the second-best record among AL division leaders, giving Chicago an important advantage over Houston in the race for a first-round bye.
Milwaukee Is the Team Everyone Is Chasing
With roughly a month remaining in the regular season, Milwaukee has established itself as baseball’s No. 1 team by record.
The Brewers’ 84 wins, .622 winning percentage and plus-178 run differential give them a combination no other club currently matches. Los Angeles, Tampa Bay and Atlanta remain close enough to challenge for the top overall records, but Milwaukee enters the final stretch with the advantage.
The most dramatic races may take place farther down the standings. Arizona is only half a game from a playoff position, Texas and Baltimore are two games behind Cleveland in the American League wild-card chase, and the AL West remains open.
September baseball should therefore feature two very different battles: baseball’s elite teams fighting for division titles and first-round byes, while a much larger group tries simply to secure one of the remaining postseason spots.