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MLB playoff tracker: Postseason odds, current bracket and who can clinch next
Confirmed
In Short: The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 14th consecutive postseason berth, while the New York Yankees secured their fourth straight playoff spot.
The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 14th consecutive postseason berth on Monday night with a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, tying the Atlanta Braves' record of 14 straight postseason appearances from 1991 to 2005.
Tarik Skubal, who pitched seven shutout innings against the Detroit Tigers, noted the difference in how the Dodgers handled clinching compared to his previous experiences with the Tigers.
The Dodgers celebrated their achievement with a toast of champagne, marking their record-tying run.
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees clinched their fourth straight postseason berth with an 8-3 win over the Minnesota Twins.
The Yankees' clinching came before the conclusion of their game against the Twins, securing their spot in the playoffs.
The New York Mets, despite their $375 million-plus payroll, have been eliminated from playoff contention, joining a growing list of teams that have been mathematically eliminated from the 2026 postseason race.
The NL Central and NL West titles have already been clinched by the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively, leaving four of baseball's six divisions still up for grabs.
The Chicago Cubs, who set an MLB record with 121 losses in 2024, now have a chance to return to the postseason for the first time in five seasons.
Byron Buxton, the Minnesota Twins' star outfielder, will undergo hip surgery next Friday, putting the Twins' postseason hopes in jeopardy.
The Twins are still technically in contention, but their path to the playoffs is narrowing.
With just a handful of games remaining in the regular season, only two teams have clinched a postseason berth so far, but neither has clinched their division.
What's confirmed
- The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 14th consecutive postseason berth on Monday night with a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, tying the Atlanta Braves' record of 14 straight postseason appearances from 1991 to 2005.
- Tarik Skubal, who pitched seven shutout innings against the Detroit Tigers, noted the difference in how the Dodgers handled clinching compared to his previous experiences with the Tigers.
- The Dodgers celebrated their achievement with a toast of champagne, marking their record-tying run.
- Meanwhile, the New York Yankees clinched their fourth straight postseason berth with an 8-3 win over the Minnesota Twins.
- The Yankees' clinching came before the conclusion of their game against the Twins, securing their spot in the playoffs.
- The New York Mets, despite their $375 million-plus payroll, have been eliminated from playoff contention, joining a growing list of teams that have been mathematically eliminated from the 2026 postseason race.
- The NL Central and NL West titles have already been clinched by the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively, leaving four of baseball's six divisions still up for grabs.
- The Chicago Cubs, who set an MLB record with 121 losses in 2024, now have a chance to return to the postseason for the first time in five seasons.
- Byron Buxton, the Minnesota Twins' star outfielder, will undergo hip surgery next Friday, putting the Twins' postseason hopes in jeopardy.
- The Twins are still technically in contention, but their path to the playoffs is narrowing.
- With just a handful of games remaining in the regular season, only two teams have clinched a postseason berth so far, but neither has clinched their division.
What's still developing
- While much of baseball remains focused on division races and wild-card battles, a growing list of clubs has been relegated to thinking about next year.
- It's been a disappointing season for a franchise that will miss the postseason for the 10th time since winning the 2014 World Series.
- The 2026 MLB Postseason picture is starting to get filled out.
- The Yankees were actually able to clinch before the conclusion of their game versus the Twins.
- The AL West race also features the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers within one game – and the team who comes in second likely missing out on the playoffs.
- The two-time defending World Series champions, who joined Milwaukee and Tampa Bay as teams who have secured playoff spots, cut their magic number to three for a fifth straight NL West title and 13th in 14 seasons.
- According to the information reported on the official MLB website, the first scenario for the Pinstripes to reach the postseason would be to defeat the Twins.
- To do so, two scenarios could unfold today against the Minnesota Twins that would allow them to clinch that privilege.
- As the games unfold, it seems like the Bronx Bombers’ path to the playoffs in the AL East is within reach.
- Clinching early provides security, but it also creates opportunities for complacency during the final stretch.
- The expectation was that Buxton was going to receive the surgery at some point, but he wanted to wait and help the Twins compete for the postseason.
- However, the outfielder is seemingly hoping to be ready for the currently scheduled spring training.