The 2021 MLB season is rapidly winding down, and as it nears its finish several postseason races have drawn most of the focus.
All but one of the divisional races are locked up. The Giants have quietly been the best team in baseball for most of the season, yet find themselves holding off an incredibly talented Dodgers squad in the NL West.
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The race for the American League wild card will be a fight to the finish. The Red Sox and Yankees entered September clinging to the top two spots and are still there, but they face pressure from the Blue Jays and Mariners.
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The Sporting News is tracking the MLB standings as the season wraps up. Here's all you need to know heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
MLB standings 2021
American League playoff bracket
Standings updated after end of regular season
| Seed | Team | Division | Record | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rays | East | 100-62 | .617 |
| 2 | Astros | West | 95-67 | .578 |
| 3 | White Sox | Central | 93-69 | .574 |
| 4 (WC) | Red Sox | East | 92-70 | .568 |
| 5 (WC) | Yankees | East | 92-70 | .568 |
American League wild-card standings
- WC1: Red Sox, 92-70 (.568)
- WC2: Yankees, 92-70 (.568)
—
- Blue Jays, 91-71 (.562), ELIMINATED
- Mariners, 90-72 (.556), ELIMINATED
- Athletics, 86-76 (.531), ELIMINATED
- Indians, 80-82 (.494), ELIMINATED
- Tigers, 77-85 (.475), ELIMINATED
- Angels, 77-85 (.475), ELIMINATED
- Royals, 74-88 (.457), ELIMINATED
- Twins, 73-89 (.451), ELIMINATED
- Rangers, 60-102 (.370), ELIMINATED
- Orioles, 52-110 (.321), ELIMINATED
National League playoff bracket
Standings updated after end of regular season
| Seed | Team | Division | Record | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giants | West | 107-55 | .660 |
| 2 | Brewers | Central | 95-67 | .586 |
| 3 | Braves | East | 88-73 | .547 |
| 4 (WC) | Dodgers | West | 106-56 | .654 |
| 5 (WC) | Cardinals | Central | 90-72 | .556 |
National League wild card standings
- WC1: Dodgers, 106-56 (.654)
- WC2: Cardinals, 90-72 (.556)
—
- Reds, 83-79 (.512), ELIMINATED
- Phillies, 82-80 (.506), ELIMINATED
- Padres, 79-83 (.488), ELIMINATED
- Mets, 77-85 (.475), ELIMINATED
- Rockies, 74-87 (.460), ELIMINATED
- Cubs, 71-91 (.438), ELIMINATED
- Marlins, 67-95 (.414), ELIMINATED
- Nationals, 65-97 (.401), ELIMINATED
- Pirates, 61-101 (.377), ELIMINATED
- Diamondbacks, 52-110 (.321), ELIMINATED
MLB magic numbers for 2021
This is the part where fans of teams in playoff spots — or those just outside — really start to get out the calculators. The magic number is the combination of a team's wins and/or losses by its closest competitor needed to clinch a playoff spot.
The magic number is listed for each team leading the division to claim the title, and the elimination number listed for teams trailing in the division. The same information is provided for those in the chase for the wild card. Info comes from MLB.com.
Updated after end of regular season
AL East
Rays, CLINCHED DIVISION
Red Sox, x/x
Yankees, x/x
Blue Jays, x/x
Orioles, x/x
AL Central
White Sox, CLINCHED DIVISION
Indians, x/x
Tigers, x/x
Royals, x/x
Twins, x/x
AL West
Astros, CLINCHED DIVISION
Mariners, x/x
Athletics, x/x
Angels, x/x
Rangers, x/x
AL wild card
Red Sox, CLINCHED FIRST WILD CARD
Yankees, CLINCHED SECOND WILD CARD
Blue Jays, x/x
Mariners, x/x
Athletics, x/x
Indians, x/x
Tigers, x/x
Angels, x/x
Royals, x/x
Twins, x/x
Rangers, x/x
Orioles, x/x
NL East
Braves, CLINCHED DIVISION
Phillies, x/x
Mets, x/x
Marlins, x/x
Nationals, x/x
NL Central
Brewers, CLINCHED DIVISION
Cardinals, x/x
Reds, x/x
Cubs, x/x
Pirates, x/x
NL West
Giants, CLINCHED DIVISION
Dodgers, x/x
Padres, x/x
Rockies, x/x
Diamondbacks, x/x
NL wild card
Dodgers, CLINCHED FIRST WILD CARD
Cardinals, CLINCHED SECOND WILD CARD
Reds, x/x
Phillies, x/x
Padres, x/x
Mets, x/x
Rockies, x/x
Cubs, x/x
Marlins, x/x
Nationals, x/x
Pirates, x/x
Diamondbacks, x/x
