Updated 2026 MLB Playoffs Bracket Picture and Standings After Braves Clinch Berth

After a one year absence, the Atlanta Braves are back in the playoffs.

The Braves clinched a playoff berth on Friday with a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros.

National League Division Standings

East	W	L	Pct	GB
Atlanta Braves	90	64	.584	0.0
Philadelphia Phillies	85	69	.552	5
Miami Marlins	76	77	.497	13.5
Washington Nationals	72	82	.464	18
New York Mets	70	84	.455	20

Central	W	L	Pct	GB
Milwaukee Brewers	96	58	.623	0.0
Chicago Cubs	85	69	.552	11
Pittsburgh Pirates	77	77	.500	19
St. Louis Cardinals	75	79	.490	21
Cincinnati Reds	72	82	.468	24

West	W	L	Pct	GB
Los Angeles Dodgers	93	60	.608	0.0
San Diego Padres	84	69	.549	9
Arizona Diamondbacks	80	73	.523	13
San Francisco Giants	64	89	.418	29
Colorado Rockies	56	97	.366	37

National League Wild-Card Standings

Team	GB
Chicago Cubs	+0.5
Philadelphia Phillies	+0.5
San Diego Padres	--
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Arizona Diamondbacks	4
Pittsburgh Pirates	7.5
Miami Marlins	8
St. Louis Cardinals	9

American League Division Standings

East	W	L	Pct	GB
Tampa Bay Rays	93	60	.608	0.0
New York Yankees	88	64	.579	4.5
Boston Red Sox	84	70	.545	9.5
Toronto Blue Jays	76	77	.497	17
Baltimore Orioles	75	79	.487	18.5

Central	W	L	Pct	GB
Cleveland Guardians	79	75	.513	0.0
Chicago White Sox	78	76	.506	1
Detroit Tigers	73	81	.474	6
Minnesota Twins	71	82	.464	7.5
Kansas City Royals	67	87	.435	12

West	W	L	Pct	GB
Houston Astros	77	77	.500	0.0
Texas Rangers	76	77	.497	0.5
Seattle Mariners	71	82	.464	5.5
Athletics	61	93	.396	16
Los Angeles Angels	59	94	.386	17.5

American League Wild-Card Standings

Team	GB
New York Yankees	+10.5
Boston Red Sox	+5.5
Chicago White Sox	--
--------------------
Texas Rangers	2
Toronto Blue Jays	2
Baltimore Orioles	3.5
Detroit Tigers	6
Seattle Mariners	7
Minnesota Twins	7

After a run of seven consecutive playoff appearances from 2018 to '24, the Braves had a disappointing 2025 in large part due to injuries to key players. Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Sean Murphy, Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider all missed significant time last year.

This season wasn't dramatically better for the Braves on the injury front, but having Chris Sale still throwing like an ace and a breakout year from Drake Baldwin helped offset a lot of those issues.

Sale, in particular, has a great case to win the NL Cy Young award for the second time in three years. He is on pace to finish with a 2.18 ERA in his age-37 season.

Pitching is the strength for this Braves team that ranks fourth in MLB with a 3.64 ERA. The lineup has been solid with the eighth-most runs scored, but Acuña and Ozzie Albies will need to pick things up in October if this team hopes to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies in the NL.

The 2026 MLB playoffs begin with the wild card round on Sept. 29, followed by the division series starting Oct. 3.