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<a style="color: #0000ff;" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb">MLB</a> playoffs are just around the corner. We&#8217;re tracking how the AL postseason picture is shaping up.
A new postseason structure was introduced before the 2022 season to expand the playing field. Six American League teams will make the playoffs at the end of the 162-game regular season, with the top two teams receiving a first-round bye and the third seed competing in a best-of-three wild card series. In the wild-card round, the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seed. 
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<h2>AL Playoff Picture on September 8 </h2>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 95px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 1 &#8211; Baltimore Orioles</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">First-Round Bye</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 2 &#8211; Houston Astros </td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">First-Round Bye</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 3 &#8211; Minnesota Twins </td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 6 &#8211; Toronto Blue Jays (WC No. 3)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 23px;">No. 4 &#8211; Tampa Bay Rays (WC No. 1)</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 23px;">No. 5 &#8211; Seattle Mariners  (WC No. 2)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/player-props" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SportsGrid&#8217;s Best Daily MLB Prop Picks</a>
Last week, the AL West took over the playoff picture. The AL East is back in control this week with three of six postseason contenders. 
The <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/article/al-east-odds-update-orioles-steal-top-spot-from-rays">Baltimore Orioles</a> have held their spot at the top of the AL East, now four games ahead of the <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/video/should-we-be-worried-about-the-rays-in-the-postseason">Tampa Bay Rays</a>. Elsewhere in the division, the Toronto Blue Jays have clawed their way back into the playoff picture. As it stands, the club holds just a half-game lead over the Texas Rangers. 
Coming out of the AL West, the defending champion Houston Astros would lock down the No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye, and the Seattle Mariners secure a coveted wild card spot.  
Rounding out the division leaders, the Minnesota Twins lead the AL Central. They will likely make the postseason despite having a worse record than every team above (including the wild-card contenders). To say this season&#8217;s AL Central is one of the worst divisions in MLB history wouldn&#8217;t be an exaggeration. The 2023 AL Central is on pace to produce the worst combined record of MLB&#8217;s divisional era. 
<h2>AL Winner Odds on September 8</h2>
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<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 1 &#8211; Houston Astros +250</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 5 &#8211; Texas Rangers +700</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 2 &#8211; Baltimore Orioles +350</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 6 &#8211; Toronto Blue Jays +1000</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 3 &#8211; Tampa Bay Rays  +500</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 24px;">No. 7 &#8211;  Minnesota Twins +1100 </td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px;">
<td style="width: 50%; height: 23px;">No. 4 &#8211; Seattle Mariners +500</td>
<td style="width: 50%; height: 23px;">No. 8 &#8211; Boston Red Sox +2000</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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While it looked like the American League East would produce three playoff contenders for most of the season, the AL West has taken over the playoff picture.

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