MLB American League Playoff Picture if the 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 6

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 – Los Angeles Angels

No. 1 Wild Card – Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 2 Wild Card – Boston Red Sox 

A new postseason structure was introduced before the 2022 season to expand the playing field. At the end of the 162-game regular season, six American League teams will make the playoffs. The top two teams will receive a first-round bye, and the third seed must compete 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. 

As it stands, the Rays remain the top team in the AL. They boast an impressive 27-6 record and are 4.5 games ahead of the Orioles, the second-best team in the league. If the season ended today, the Red Sox would make the playoffs out of the AL East. Boston made a late-April surge up the rankings, going 14-6 in their last 20 showings.

Elsewhere, the Twins lead the AL Central, and the Rangers top the AL West, respectively. As the season progresses, these teams will likely slip down the rankings. The Angels and Astros are gaining momentum in the West and could overtake Texas soon, and the Tigers are challenging Minnesota for that top spot in the Central.

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