MLB standings 2021: Updated playoff bracket, magic numbers as of Oct. 3

Edward Sutelan

MLB standings 2021: Updated playoff bracket, magic numbers as of Oct. 3 image

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

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.