MLB Playoff Picture 2024: Predictions for Final Postseason Bracket

Eight of the 12 Major League Baseball playoff participants have been confirmed heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

That number can get as high as 10 teams by the end of Friday's action since the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals each hold a three-game lead in the American League wild-card race over the Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners.

The National League wild-card race could come down to Monday's doubleheader between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves.

New York is in Milwaukee this weekend, Atlanta hosts Kansas City and the Arizona Diamondbacks can clinch a playoff berth with wins over the San Diego Padres.

Home-field advantage in both leagues is also up for grabs this weekend. The top two seeds have already been determined, so the fight for the No. 1 seed will be the sole focus for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians.

American League

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Gerrit Cole

Division Winners

1. New York Yankees (93-66)

2. Cleveland (92-67)

3. Houston (86-73)

Wild-Card Race

1. Baltimore (88-71)

2. Detroit (85-74)

3. Kansas City (85-74)

4. Minnesota 3 games behind

5. Seattle 3 GB

The AL playoff picture is far cleaner than the NL race.

Detroit and Kansas City need one victory each, or a Minnesota loss on Friday at home to Baltimore, to complete the six-team field in the AL.

Detroit has the easier weekend matchup against the Chicago White Sox, so it should remain ahead of the Royals for the No. 5 seed, which comes with a trip to Baltimore.

Kansas City may find it tough to win games in Atlanta since the Braves need to keep winning to stay alive until Monday in the NL.

Minnesota needs to sweep the Orioles and pray for lots of help. The same can be said about the Seattle Mariners at home against the Oakland Athletics.

The Yankees lead the race for the No. 1 seed in the AL, and they should be able to cruise past the Pittsburgh Pirates at home to remain in front of the Guardians.

Cleveland finishes the season with Houston, who should be more concerned with setting its pitching lineup for the opening round instead of ending the regular season with wins.

AL Bracket Prediction

No. 6 Kansas City at No. 3 Houston

No. 5 Detroit at No. 4 Baltimore

(1) New York Yankees

(2) Cleveland

National League

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Will Smith

Division Winners

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (95-64)

2. Philadelphia (94-65)

3. Milwaukee (91-68)

Wild-Card Race

1. San Diego (91-68)

2. New York Mets (87-70)

3. Arizona (88-71)

4. Atlanta 1 GB

All eyes will be on Milwaukee, Phoenix and Atlanta this weekend as the NL wild-card race tries to figure itself out.

The Mets appear to be in good shape with a rested pitching staff to take on a Milwaukee Brewers team locked into the No. 3 seed.

San Diego is already into the playoff field and likely the No. 4 seed, but it still has motivation to win this weekend because it can keep itself away from Arizona in the first round and even eliminate the D-backs from playoff contention.

Atlanta needs to beat Kansas City and receive some help from either San Diego or Milwaukee.

The Braves need to be within two games of the final wild-card spot for Monday's doubleheader against the Mets to be played. The Mets-Braves contests will not take place if they won't alter the playoff race.

If the games are played Monday, Atlanta and the Mets would be at significant pitching disadvantages because the first round of the playoffs begin on Monday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers seem poised to land the No. 1 seed since they finish in Colorado. The Phillies face the Washington Nationals, so one slip by the Dodgers could allow them to take home-field advantage.

However, that seems unlikely given how poor the Rockies have been all season and how much the Dodgers' lineup can take advantage of hitting at Coors Field.

NL Bracket Prediction

No. 6 Arizona at No. 3 Milwaukee

No. 5 New York Mets at No. 4 San Diego

(1) Los Angeles Dodgers

(2) Philadelphia