MLB Playoff Picture 2024: Padres Clinch Postseason Berth; Updated Bracket, Standings

The San Diego Padres are postseason-bound after missing the playoffs a year ago.

A dramatic 4-2 win over the NL West-rival Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday sealed the Padres' postseason fate, and the playoff picture is becoming clearer.

The game ended with Miguel Rojas hitting into a triple play after the first two hitters in the bottom of the ninth reached base.

San Diego became the fourth team to clinch a playoff spot in the National League, joining the Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies while just two teams, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians, have clinched berths in the American League. The Brewers have also already clinched the NL Central.

As the regular season nears its end, here's a look at the updated playoff standings and potential matchups through Saturday's games.

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Projected American League Playoff Matchups

• First-round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland Guardians
• Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Kansas City Royals, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Detroit Tigers

Projected National League Playoff Matchups

• First-round bye: No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies 
• Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks, No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 New York Mets

Current Standings

AL East

1. New York Yankees (92-65)*
2. Baltimore Orioles (87-70, 5 GB)*
3. Boston Red Sox (80-78, 12.5 GB)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (78-79, 14 GB)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (73-85, 19.5 GB)

AL Central

1. Cleveland Guardians (91-67)**
2. Detroit Tigers (83-74, 7.5 GB)
3. Kansas City Royals (83-74, 7.5 GB)
4. Minnesota Twins (81-76, 9.5 GB)
5. Chicago White Sox (37-120, 53.5 GB)

AL West

1. Houston Astros (86-72)**
2. Seattle Mariners (81-77, 5 GB)
3. Texas Rangers (74-83, 11.5 GB)
4. Oakland Athletics (68-89, 17.5 GB)
5. Los Angeles Angels (63-94, 22.5 GB)

AL Wild Card

1. Baltimore Orioles (87-70, +4 Games)*
2. Detroit Tigers (83-74) 
3. Kansas City Royals (83-74)
4. Minnesota Twins (81-76, 2 GB)
5. Seattle Mariners (81-77, 2.5 GB)
6. Boston Red Sox (80-78, 3.5 GB)
7. Tampa Bay Rays (78-79, 5 GB)

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies (93-65)**
2. New York Mets (87-70, 5.5 GB)
3. Atlanta Braves (86-71, 6.5 GB)
4. Washington Nationals (69-88, 23.5 GB)
5. Miami Marlins (58-99, 34.5 GB)

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers (90-67)** 
2. Chicago Cubs (81-77, 9.5 GB)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (80-77, 10 GB)
4. Cincinnati Reds, (76-82, 14.5 GB)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (73-84, 17 GB)

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-64)*
2. San Diego Padres (91-66, 2 GB)*
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (87-71, 6.5 GB)
4. San Francisco Giants (79-79, 14.5 GB)
5. Colorado Rockies (60-97, 33 GB)

NL Wild Card

1. San Diego Padres (91-66, +4.5 Games)*
2. New York Mets (87-70, +0.5 Games) 
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (87-71)
   
4. Atlanta Braves (86-71, 0.5 GB)

*Denotes clinched playoff spot

**Denotes clinched division

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The Padres' postseason odds were in doubt through the first half of the season, but they posted the best record in baseball since the All-Star break to put them in prime position to reach the playoffs after missing out a year ago.

The addition of Luis Arraez from the Miami Marlins in May gave San Diego a boost on offense. He leads the team with a .323 batting average and has also collected 38 RBI since joining the club.

Fernando Tatis Jr. missed much of the regular season, but he made his return in September to help the Padres make a late postseason push. Having him back in the lineup will be vital in the playoffs.

But San Diego could have a tough wild-card matchup if the current standings hold. The Arizona Diamondbacks have been right on the Padres' tail all season and will be looking for a strong start to the postseason to repeat as National League champs.

The Diamondbacks haven't looked quite like a World Series-contending team this season, but the same could be said of Arizona last year.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have looked like the best team in the National League, thanks in large part to the historic season from Shohei Ohtani. But the Padres are closing in on them in the NL West at just two games back with two more head-to-head matchups on Wednesday and Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

San Diego has already clinched the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Dodgers with an 8-3 record in 11 matchups, so if the two teams finish with the same record at the end of the regular season, the Padres will be the division champion for the first time since 2006.