MLB standings 2022: Updated playoff bracket, magic numbers as of Oct. 5

Edward Sutelan

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MLB standings 2022: Updated playoff bracket, magic numbers as of Oct. 5 image

As the 2022 MLB season is coming to a close, the postseason picture is beginning to take focus.

The Dodgers have run away with the NL West and clinched MLB's best record. The Astros have clinched the top seed in the American League.

But postseason spots and seedings remain open. Front and center is the race for the NL East, with the Braves and Mets jockeying for first place in the final three days of the season.

The final NL wild-card spot is up for grabs as the Brewers try to catch the Phillies. And there's still some shuffling that could happen in the AL wild-card race between the Blue Jays, Mariners and Rays.

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This year, six teams in each league will make the playoffs, three division winners and three wild cards. The top two division winners in each league are given first-round byes to the League Division Series. Barring any major slumps or runs the rest of the way, it will be the East and West division winners in each league getting the free passes.

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 2022

American League playoff bracket

Standings updated after games of Oct. 5

Seed Team Division Record Win pct.
1 Astros*** West 106-56 .654
2 Yankees** East 99-63 .611
3 Guardians** Central 92-70 .568
4 (WC) Blue Jays* East 92-70 .568
5 (WC) Mariners* West 90-72 .556
6 (WC) Rays* East 86-76 .531

American League wild-card standings

  • WC1: Blue Jays, 92-69 (.568)
  • WC2: Mariners, 90-72 (.556)
  • WC3: Rays, 86-76 (.531)

—

  • Orioles, 83-79 (.512), ELIMINATED
  • White Sox, 81-81 (.500), ELIMINATED
  • Red Sox, 78-84 (.481), ELIMINATED
  • Twins, 78-84 (.481), ELIMINATED
  • Angels, 73-89 (.451), ELIMINATED
  • Rangers, 68-94 (.420), ELIMINATED
  • Tigers, 66-96 (.407), ELIMINATED
  • Royals, 65-97 (.401), ELIMINATED
  • Athletics, 60-102 (.370), ELIMINATED

National League playoff bracket

Standings updated after games of Oct. 5

Seed Team Division Record Win pct.
1 Dodgers*** West 111-51 .685
2 Braves** East 101-61 .623
3 Cardinals** Central 93-69 .574
4 (WC) Mets* East 101-61 .623
5 (WC) Padres* West 89-73 .549
6 (WC) Phillies* East 87-75 .537

National League wild-card standings

  • WC1: Mets, 101-61 (.623)
  • WC2: Padres, 89-73 (.549)
  • WC3: Phillies, 87-75 (.537)

—

  • Brewers, 86-76 (.531), ELIMINATED
  • Giants, 81-81 (.500), ELIMINATED
  • Diamondbacks, 74-88 (.457), ELIMINATED
  • Cubs, 74-88 (.457), ELIMINATED
  • Marlins, 69-93 (.426), ELIMINATED
  • Rockies, 68-94 (.420), ELIMINATED
  • Reds, 62-100 (.383), ELIMINATED
  • Pirates, 62-100 (.383), ELIMINATED
  • Nationals, 55-107 (.340), ELIMINATED

* Indicates clinched postseason berth

** Indicates clinched division

*** Indicates clinched No. 1 seed in league

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MLB magic numbers for 2022

As the season starts to wind down, these are always the numbers everyone wants to know. How many more games will it take for teams to clinch postseason positions?

The math behind magic numbers isn't complicated. It's subtracting one team's wins and the losses of a trailing team from 163. So, for example, if a team leading the division has 90 wins and a team trailing them in the standings has 63 losses, the magic number would be 10.

MORE: When do the 2022 MLB playoffs start?

Keep those calculators away. The Sporting News has the latest magic numbers for teams trailing in the division race and the wild card rounds. Info comes from MLB.com.

Updated after end of games on Oct. 5

AL East

  1. Yankees, CLINCHED DIVISION
  2. Blue Jays, x/x
  3. Rays, x/x
  4. Orioles, x/x
  5. Red Sox, x/x

AL Central

  1. Guardians, CLINCHED DIVISION
  2. White Sox, x/x
  3. Twins, x/x
  4. Tigers, x/x
  5. Royals, x/x

AL West

  1. Astros, CLINCHED DIVISION
  2. Mariners, x/x
  3. Angels, x/x
  4. Rangers, x/x
  5. Athletics, x/x

AL wild card

  1. Blue Jays, CLINCHED WILD CARD
  2. Mariners, CLINCHED WILD CARD
  3. Rays, CLINCHED WILD CARD
  4. Orioles, x/x
  5. White Sox, x/x
  6. Twins, x/x
  7. Red Sox, x/x
  8. Angels, x/x
  9. Rangers, x/x
  10. Tigers, x/x
  11. Royals, x/x
  12. Athletics, x/x

NL East

  1. Braves, CLINCHED DIVISION
  2. Mets, x/x
  3. Phillies, x/x
  4. Marlins, x/x
  5. Nationals, x/x

NL Central

  1. Cardinals, CLINCHED DIVISION
  2. Brewers, x/x
  3. Cubs, x/x
  4. Reds, x/x
  5. Pirates, x/x

NL West

  1. Dodgers, CLINCHED DIVISION
  2. Padres, x/x
  3. Giants, x/x
  4. Diamondbacks, x/x
  5. Rockies, x/x

NL wild card

  1. Braves, CLINCHED WILD CARD
  2. Padres, CLINCHED WILD CARD
  3. Phillies, CLINCHED WILD CARD
  4. Brewers, x/x
  5. Giants, x/x
  6. Diamondbacks, x/x
  7. Cubs, x/x
  8. Rockies, x/x
  9. Marlins, x/x
  10. Reds, x/x
  11. Pirates, x/x
  12. Nationals, 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.