MLB American League Playoff Picture if Season Ended Today

It’s still early in the MLB season, but we can still look ahead to the playoffs.

Here we’ll track how the American League playoff picture is shaping up through the season. 

MLB AL Playoff Picture on May 25

No. 1 Overall (First-Round bye) – Tampa Bay Rays 

No. 2 Overall (First-Round bye) – Texas Rangers 

No. 3 Overall – Minnesota Twins  vs. No. 3 Wild Card – Houston Astros

No. 1 Wild Card – Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 2 Wild Card – New York Yankees 

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. 

If the season ended today, AL East teams would occupy three of the six coveted playoff spots, including the first overall seed and two wild cards. The Rays remain the top team in the division (and all of MLB) with an impressive 36-15 record. They are three and five games ahead of the second and third-place teams: the Orioles and the Yankees. 

The Twins lead the AL Central, and the Rangers top the AL West. Nearly two months into the season, these teams have maintained their position as the division leaders. However, the gap is getting smaller in the West. The Angels and Astros are gaining momentum and could overtake Texas if they hit a backslide. In the Central, the Tigers are challenging Minnesota for the top spot. 

Baseball fans can expect each team to fight until the end for optimal positioning come fall.