Breaking Down MLB Playoff Picture 2025, Standings and Current Postseason Bracket

The dog days of summer are nearing their end, but the MLB playoff race is still heating up.

This week culminated with the New York Yankees defeating the Boston Red Sox 7-2 on Sunday Night Baseball in another installment of the league's greatest rivalry.

Let's take a look at the updated standings as the playoff picture starts to take shape.

American League

Playoff Teams

1. Detroit Tigers (78-54)
2. Toronto Blue Jays (76-55)
3. Houston Astros (72-59)
4. Boston Red Sox (71-60)
5. New York Yankees (70-60)
6. Seattle Mariners (70-61)

In the Hunt

• Kansas City Royals (67-64) 3 GB
• Texas Rangers (66-66) 4.5 GB
• Cleveland Guardians (64-65) 5 GB
• Tampa Bay Rays (63-67) 6.5 GB
• Los Angeles Angels (61-69) 8.5 GB
• Baltimore Orioles (60-70) 9.5 GB
• Athletics (60-72) 10.5 GB
• Minnesota Twins (59-71) 10.5 GB
• Chicago White Sox (47-83) 22.5 GB

Projected AL Playoff Bracket - Wild Card Round

1. Detroit Tigers (bye)
2. Toronto Blue Jays (bye)
3. Houston Astros vs. 6. Seattle Mariners
4. Boston Red Sox vs. 5. New York Yankees

National League

Playoff Teams

1. Milwaukee Brewers (81-50)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (76-54)
3. Chicago Cubs (76-55)
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (74-57)
5. San Diego Padres (74-57)
6. New York Mets (69-61)

In the Hunt

• Cincinnati Reds (68-63) 1.5 GB
• Arizona Diamondbacks (64-67) 5.5 GB
• St. Louis Cardinals (64-67) 5.5 GB
• San Francisco Giants (63-68) 6.5 GB
• Miami Marlins (61-69) 8 GB
• Atlanta Braves (59-71) 10 GB
• Pittsburgh Pirates (57-74) 12.5 GB
• Washington Nationals (53-77) 16 GB

Eliminated

• Colorado Rockies (37-94)

Projected NL Playoff Bracket - Wild Card Round

1. Milwaukee Brewers (bye)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (bye)
3. Chicago Cubs vs. 6. New York Mets
4. Los Angeles Dodgers vs. 5. San Diego Pagres

After weeks of chasing, the Detroit Tigers have finally overtaken the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the American League. The Tigers lost Sunday's series finale against the Kansas City Royals, but an 8-2 stretch in their last 10 games gave them a comfortable lead over the Blue Jays.

Toronto still owns a sizable lead atop the AL East over the Red Sox and Yankees, both of whom remain in position for a playoff spot after their back-and-forth series. The Seattle Mariners tumbled down from fourth to sixth in the AL after losing eight of their last 10 games, and they no longer appear to be a threat to the Houston Astros for the AL West crown.

Any further struggles by the Mariners could open the door for teams like the Royals or the Texas Rangers to try to steal the final AL wild-card spot.

Over in the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers continued their stranglehold on first place as MLB's only 80-win team. However, they've shown signs of slowing down with five losses in their last seven games.

The Chicago Cubs surged to third place in the NL behind the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. They've benefitted from the NL West battle between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been duking it out atop the division. The Dodgers avoided a sweep by defeating the Padres in Sunday's series finale to create a tie for first place.

The New York Mets are still clinging to the final wild-card spot, but the Cincinnati Reds are breathing down their necks as they closed the gap.

As September approaches, it's clear that there's more excitement in store for the home stretch of the 2025 MLB season.