MLB Playoff Picture 2024: Phillies Clinch Postseason; Updated Bracket, MLB Standings 2024 ; AL ; NL

MLB Playoff Picture 2024: Phillies Clinch Postseason; Updated Bracket, Standings

It's going to be a red October in the City of Brotherly Love again after the Philadelphia Phillies earned their third straight MLB playoff berth.

The Phillies clinched their spot in the postseason with Friday's 12-2 win over the New York Mets.

As the MLB playoff picture continues to come into focus, here are the updated matchups in both leagues based on the standings through games played on Friday, Sept. 20.

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

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

Current Standings

AL East

New York Yankees (90-64)*

Baltimore Orioles (86-68, 4 GB)

Boston Red Sox (76-78, 14 GB)

Tampa Bay Rays (76-78, 14 GB)

Toronto Blue Jays (73-81, 17 GB)

AL Central

Cleveland Guardians (90-65)*

Kansas City Royals (82-72, 7.5 GB)

Minnesota Twins (81-73, 8.5 GB)

Detroit Tigers (80-74, 9.5 GB)

Chicago White Sox (36-118, 53.5 GB)

AL West

Houston Astros (84-70)

Seattle Mariners (79-75, 5 GB)

Texas Rangers (73-81, 11 GB)

Oakland Athletics (67-87, 17 GB)

Los Angeles Angels (62-92, 22 GB)

AL Wild Card

Baltimore Orioles (86-68, +5 Games)

Kansas City Royals (82-72, +1 Game)

Minnesota Twins (81-73)

Detroit Tigers (80-74, 1 GB)

Seattle Mariners (79-75, 2 GB)

Boston Red Sox (76-78, 5 GB)

Tampa Bay Rays (76-78, 5 GB)

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies (92-62)*

New York Mets (85-69, 7 GB)

Atlanta Braves (83-71, 9 GB)

Washington Nationals (68-86, 24 GB)

Miami Marlins (57-97, 35 GB)

NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers (88-66)** 

Chicago Cubs (79-75, 9 GB)

St. Louis Cardinals (77-77, 11 GB)

Cincinnati Reds, (75-80, 13.5 GB)

Pittsburgh Pirates (72-82, 16 GB)

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers (92-62)*

San Diego Padres (88-66, 4 GB)

Arizona Diamondbacks (86-68, 6 GB)

San Francisco Giants (75-79, 17 GB)

Colorado Rockies (59-95, 33 GB)

NL Wild Card

San Diego Padres (88-66, +2.5 Games)

Arizona Diamondbacks (86-68, + 1 Game)

New York Mets (85-69)

Atlanta Braves (83-71, 2 GB)

Chicago Cubs (79-75, 6 GB)

St. Louis Cardinals (77-77, 8 GB)

*Denotes clinched playoff spot

**Denotes clinched division

In a season that hasn't had dominant regular-season teams like in years past, the Phillies have been the most complete club in MLB since the beginning of the year.

Starting pitching has been a key ingredient for the Phillies in their previous two playoff appearances, and that's shaping up to be a strength again. Their starters rank third in MLB in FanGraphs' wins above replacement (15.6).

Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez are the best starting quartet in MLB. Wheeler has a 2.42 ERA in 11 playoff appearances. Nola has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his nine postseason starts.

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