2023 MLB Playoff Picture, Baseball Rankings, Postseason Predictions, Tiebreakers, Magic Numbers – CBS Sports

The 2023 Major League Baseball playoffs begin in two weeks, but there is still much to be decided about the MLB playoffs. So far, four teams have secured a postseason spot. The Orioles and Rays joined the NL East-winning Braves and NL West-winning Dodgers as 2023 playoff teams on Sunday. The Twins and Brewers are closing in on division titles in the AL and NL Central, respectively, but the wild-card races in both leagues are close at hand.

In the American League wild card hunt, three teams are fighting for two spots. The Rays have a big lead over the AL’s No. 4 seed and will host a Wild Card Series if they can’t catch the Orioles in the AL East. The Astros are trying to hold off the Rangers and Mariners in the division, and the Blue Jays are battling those three AL West clubs for the final two wild-card spots.

In the National League, both the Diamondbacks and Marlins had weekend wins that helped them move up the standings. The Phillies are holding on to the No. 4 seed in the Netherlands, but their spot is not guaranteed. The Cubs (who were defeated by the D-Backs over the weekend), Reds and Giants are also in the mix.

The picture of the 2023 MLB playoffs is also notable for who is not there. The Yankees, Mets, Padres and Cardinals — all playoff teams in 2022 and projected contenders in 2023 — have had disappointing years that will end with the regular season. The Angels’ playoff hopes were dashed in a dismal August. The Halos withdrew from the race in August and permanently ruled out Shohei Ohtani for the season over the weekend.

As a reminder, MLB now uses a 12-team playoff format, with the three division winners and three wild card teams in both leagues qualifying for the postseason. The two division winners with the best record in each league receive byes into the League Division Series round, while the other eight teams compete in a best-of-three wild card series.

Who won?

• Brave: NL East won
• Dodgers: Won NL West
• Orioles: AL playoff spot secured
• Rays: AL playoff spot secured

Magic numbers

• The Twins’ magic number to win the AL Central: 5
• The Brewers’ magic number to win the NL Central: 7

Tiebreakers

Here’s a look at the key tiebreakers that could play a role in determining playoff spots and seedings. MLB uses the head-to-head record as a top tiebreaker among teams that finish with the same record.

At least
Orioles own a tiebreaker over Rays

AL West
Astros own tiebreaker over Rangers
Mariners own tiebreaker over Astros
Rangers own tiebreaker over Mariners

AL wildcard
Rangers own tiebreaker over Mariners and Blue Jays
Mariners own tiebreaker over Blue Jays

NL wildcard
Phillies own a tiebreaker over Reds, Cubs and Diamondbacks
Marlins own tiebreaker over Phillies, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Reds
The Giants own the tiebreaker over the Phillies, Marlins, Reds and Diamondbacks
Cubs own tiebreaker over Giants
Diamondbacks own tiebreaker over Cubs
The Reds own the tiebreaker over the Cubs and Diamondbacks

Here’s a look at the MLB standings and playoff picture for the 12-team postseason as of this morning. All division and postseason odds are courtesy of SportsLine. You can view the extended rankings here.

Image of the 2023 MLB playoffs

American League

Bye

• No. 1 Orioles and No. 2 Astros

Wild Card Series

• No. 3 Twins vs. No. 6 Rangers
• No. 4 Rays vs. No. 5 Blue Jays

Bundesliga

Bye

• No. 1 Braves and No. 2 Dodgers

Wild Card Series

• No. 3 Brewers vs. No. 6 Cubs
• No. 4 Phillies vs. No. 5 Diamondbacks

American League Standings

National League standings

Wildcard scoring

American League

Bundesliga