MLB standings 2024: Updated playoff bracket, magic numbers through Sept. 29

The chase for the postseason is heating up, and plenty of familiar faces are in the hunt.

The Dodgers, Phillies and Astros are all barreling toward October again, with Philadelphia and Houston looking for revenge after falling one win short of the World Series in 2023. The Dodgers are aiming for their 11th consecutive trip to postseason, but it would be a first for two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani. 

The rest of the postseason picture is loaded with storylines. The Yankees have taken a step forward after an uncharacteristic 2023, likely giving Aaron Judge a chance at an October run for the ages. The Mets and Padres have also rebounded after difficult seasons, but both could see their fates come down to the wire.

The Royals and Orioles represent upstart franchises in the mix. Kansas City has engineered a massive turnaround from 106 losses a year ago, while Baltimore hasn't dominated the AL like it did in 2023 but is looking for October redemption with its young core.

At least one postseason regular is at serious risk of falling out: the Braves have been beset by injuries and offensive regression, putting their wild-card hopes at risk. The reigning champion Rangers are also struggling to keep up, while their 2023 World Series opponent, the Diamondbacks, are on track to finish well ahead of where they did last season and make another run.

Here are the updated MLB standings and magic numbers as the end of the season nears.

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MLB standings 2024

American League playoff bracket

Standings updated through games on Sept. 29.

American League wild-card standings

• WC1: Orioles, 91-71 (.562), +5.0
• WC2: Royals, 86-76 (.531)
• WC3: Tigers, 86-76 (.531)
   
• —
   
• Mariners, 85-77 (.525), ELIMINATED
• Twins, 82-80 (.506), ELIMINATED
• Red Sox, 81-81 (.500), ELIMINATED
• Rays, 80-82 (.494), ELIMINATED
• Rangers, 78-84 (.481), ELIMINATED
• Blue Jays, 74-88 (.457), ELIMINATED
• Athletics, 69-93 (.426), ELIMINATED
• Angels, 63-99 (.389), ELIMINATED
• White Sox, 41-121 (.253), ELIMINATED

* Indicates clinched postseason berth
** Indicates clinched division title
*** Indicates clinched first round bye

National League playoff bracket

Standings updated through games on Sept. 29.

The Mets and Braves will play a doubleheader on Monday, each needing one win to clinch a playoff berth. The Diamondbacks can only clinch if either team sweeps the doubleheader.

National League wild-card standings

• WC1: Padres, 93-69 (.574), +4.0 GB
• WC2: Braves, 88-72 (.550)
• WC3: Mets, 88-72 (.550)

• —

• Diamondbacks, 89-73 (.549), 0.0 GB
• Cubs, 83-79 (.512), ELIMINATED
• Cardinals, 83-79 (.512), ELIMINATED
• Giants, 80-82 (.494), ELIMINATED
• Reds, 77-85 (.475),  ELIMINATED
• Pirates, 76-85 (.472), ELIMINATED
• Nationals, 71-91 (.438), ELIMINATED
• Marlins, 62-100 (.383), ELIMINATED
• Rockies, 61-101 (.377), ELIMINATED

* Indicates clinched postseason berth
** Indicates clinched division title
*** Indicates clinched first round bye

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MLB magic numbers for 2024

Some teams have spent most of 2024 knowing that reaching the postseason was a near certainty, but officially clinching a bid is still a massive moment of relief for both the organization and the fans. 

12 teams will clinch a postseason berth by the end of the day on Sept. 29, and the last handful of spots could come down to the final weekend. Magic numbers are one way to tell how close each team is to clinching.

The math behind magic numbers is as follows: Add one team's wins and the losses of the trailing team, then subtract it from 163. If a team leading the division has 90 wins and the second-place team has 63 losses, their magic number would sit at 10. Because tiebreaker games no longer occur, though, the magic number can be one number higher or lower based on which team owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The first number below is the magic number for teams leading the division or wild-card races to clinch that race. The second number is the elimination number for teams trailing the division or wild-card races, and how far they are from playoff elimination. Two x's means a team has been eliminated from that race.

Updated through games on Sept. 28.

AL East

1. Yankees, x/x (clinched division title)
2. Orioles, x/x
3. Red Sox, x/x
4. Rays, x/x
5. Blue Jays, x/x

AL Central

1. Guardians, x/x (clinched division title)
2. Royals, x/x
3. Twins, x/x
4. Tigers, x/x
5. White Sox, x/x

AL West

1. Astros, x/x (clinched division title)
2. Mariners, x/x
3. Rangers, x/x
4. Athletics, x/x
5. Angels, x/x

AL Wild Card

1. Orioles, x/x (clinched postseason berth)
2. Tigers, x/x (clinched postseason berth)
3. Royals, x/x (clinched postseason berth)
4. Twins, x/x
5. Mariners, x/x
6. Red Sox, x/x
7. Rays, x/x
8. Rangers, x/x
9. Blue Jays, x/x
10. Athletics, x/x
11. Angels, x/x
12. White Sox, x/x

NL East

1. Phillies, x/x (clinched division title)
2. Mets, x/x
3. Braves, x/x
4. Nationals, x/x
5. Marlins, x/x

NL Central

1. Brewers, x/x (clinched division title)
2. Cubs, x/x
3. Cardinals, x/x
4. Reds, x/x
5. Pirates, x/x

NL West

1. Dodgers, x/x (clinched division title)
2. Padres, x/x
3. Diamondbacks, x/x
4. Giants, x/x
5. Rockies, x/x

NL Wild Card

1. Padres, x/x (clinched postseason berth)
2. Braves, 1/x
3. Mets, 1/x
4. Diamondbacks, x/1
5. Cubs, x/x
6. Cardinals, x/x
7. Giants, x/x
8. Reds, x/x
9. Pirates, x/x
10. Nationals, x/x
11. Rockies, x/x
12. Marlins, x/x