MLB Playoff Picture 2023: Updated Standings, Wild Card After Marlins, D-Backs Clinch

The Miami Marlins are officially playoff-bound.

The team controlled its own destiny going into Saturday and needed a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates to clinch a spot in the postseason. With a 2-2 score entering the sixth inning, the Marlins needed a push.

They got it.

The Marlins tacked on five runs in the final four innings to cruise to a 7-3 victory. This marks the Marlins' second playoff appearance since 2020 and the fourth in franchise history. This is only the third time the team has made the playoffs in a 162-game season, with the previous two appearances ending in World Series titles.

As a consequence, the Chicago Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention. This ended an otherwise great season from the franchise that saw it exceed expectations and hang in the postseason race to the bitter end.

Current Playoff Picture

American League

No. 1 seed Baltimore Orioles (100-60), first-round bye

No. 2 seed Texas Rangers (90-71), first-round bye

No. 3 seed Minnesota Twins (87-74) vs. No. 6 seed Houston Astros (89-72)

No. 4 seed Tampa Bay Rays (98-63) vs. No. 5 seed Toronto Blue Jays (89-72)

National League

No. 1 seed Atlanta Braves (104-57), first-round bye

No. 2 seed Los Angeles Dodger (99-62), first-round bye

No. 3 seed Milwaukee Brewers (91-70 vs. No. 6 seed Arizona Diamondbacks (84-77)

No. 4 seed Philadelphia Phillies (89-72) vs. No. 5 seed Miami Marlins (84-76)

Full Standings 

AL East

1. Baltimore Orioles**: 101-60

2. Tampa Bay Rays*: 98-63; 3.0 GB

3. Toronto Blue Jays*: 89-72; 12.0 GB

4. New York Yankees: 82-79; 19.0 GB

5. Boston Red Sox: 77-84; 24.0 GB

AL Central

1. Minnesota Twins**: 87-74

2. Detroit Tigers: 77-84; 10.0 GB

3. Cleveland Guardians: 76-85; 11.0 GB

4. Chicago White Sox: 61-100; 26.0 GB

5. Kansas City Royals: 55-106; 32.0 GB

AL West

1. Texas Rangers*: 90-71

2. Houston Astros: 89-72; 1.5 GB

3. Seattle Mariners: 87-74; 3.0 GB

4. Los Angeles Angels: 72-89; 18.0 GB

5. Oakland Athletics: 50-111; 40.0 GB

AL Wild Card

1. Tampa Bay Rays *

2. Toronto Blue Jays *

3. Houston Astros *

NL East

1. Atlanta Braves**: 104-57

2. Philadelphia Phillies*: 89-72; 15.0 GB

3. Miami Marlins*: 84-76; 19.5 GB

4. New York Mets: 74-86; 29.5 GB

5. Washington Nationals: 70-91; 33.0 GB

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers*: 91-70

2. Chicago Cubs: 83-78; 8.0 GB

3. Cincinnati Reds: 82-79; 9.0 GB

4. Pittsburgh Pirates: 75-86; 16.0 GB

5. St. Louis Cardinals: 70-91; 21.0 GB

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers**: 99-62

2. Arizona Diamondbacks*: 84-77; 15.0 GB

3. San Diego Padres: 81-80; 18.0 GB

4. San Francisco Giants: 79-82; 20.0 GB

5. Colorado Rockies: 58-103; 41.0 GB

NL Wild Card

1. Philadelphia Phillies *

2. Miami Marlins*

3. Arizona Diamondbacks*

*Indicates playoff berth clinched

**Indicates division clinched

Full Standings at MLB.com

The Marlins weren't the only team with a chance to clinch Saturday. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays all had a chance to clinch positions based on tonight's results while the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds were fighting to remain in the hunt.

With a 6-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners, the Texas Rangers became the first team in the AL West to clinch at least a wild-card spot.

The Toronto Blue Jays also clinched a playoff position as a result, sending them back to the postseason for the third time in the past four seasons.

In the National League, the Reds saw their postseason push fall short with a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. This meant that the Arizona Diamondbacks officially earned a spot in the playoffs as well.

The NL postseason picture is now officially set, with seeding being the only logistic to be figured out.

However, the NL was not the only league to have the season set on Saturday. The final dagger came as the Astros defeated the Diamondbacks 1-0 to clinch a spot in the postseason and eliminate the Mariners.

This means that the AL playoff picture is set as well, but the final day of the regular season is set to be a little more interesting. The Astros and Rangers still have a division to settle and tomorrow's results will determine that.