MLB Playoff Tiebreakers: Divisions, Wild Card and Every Team
Sportsgrid Staff
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Tiebreakers by Team - Atlanta Braves
The Braves have secured the tiebreaker over the Diamondbacks, but they lost to the Padres. Their upcoming series against the Mets could decide their Wild Card fate. A sweep by either team could change the entire outlook of the postseason for both Atlanta and New York.
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MLB Tiebreaker Rules Overview
In 2022, MLB introduced the third Wild Card team to the postseason and eliminated tiebreaker games. Now, ties for playoff spots or seeding are decided through regular-season results, making it essential for teams to perform well throughout the year. The primary tiebreaker is head-to-head records between the tied teams. If the head-to-head record is even, the next tiebreaker is the teams' intradivision records. If the tie remains, more intricate tiebreakers, like interleague or last half of intraleague games, can come into play. With so many close races, these tiebreakers are critical for determining who makes the postseason and in what order.
*Standings and tiebreakers before September 17 games
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AL East Tiebreakers
The AL East features a close race between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees. As of now, the Orioles lead the head-to-head series 6-4 with three games left (Sept. 24-26). If Baltimore wins just one of those games, they will secure the AL East tiebreaker. The Yankees need to win all three games to tie the series and force a tiebreak based on intradivision record. Both teams are playoff-bound, but their head-to-head results will determine seeding and potentially who gets a first-round bye.
AL Central Tiebreakers
In the AL Central, the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals are locked in a battle for the division crown. The Royals have the advantage, as they won the head-to-head series over Cleveland. Kansas City will win the division if the teams are tied at the end of the season. The Royals also have tiebreakers over the Detroit Tigers, positioning them well in the Wild Card race if they miss out on the division title. The Guardians will need to outpace the Royals outright to claim the division.
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AL West Tiebreakers
The AL West is a heated contest between the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners. Seattle holds the head-to-head advantage, leading the season series 6-4, with three crucial games remaining from September 23-25. If the Mariners win one more game in that series, they will clinch the tiebreaker and potentially the division if both teams finish with the same record. If the Astros sweep, they would claim the AL West tiebreaker. These head-to-head matchups could determine who gets a first-round bye.
AL Wild Card Tiebreakers
The AL Wild Card race involves several teams, including the Twins, Tigers, Royals, and Mariners. The Baltimore Orioles currently hold tiebreakers over the Royals and Mariners, positioning them well for a top Wild Card seed. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins hold tiebreakers over the Royals, Mariners, and Tigers, giving them an edge if the teams finish with identical records. The Kansas City Royals will need to rely on intradivision records to claim a tiebreaker over Seattle, as the season series ended in a 3-3 tie.
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NL West Tiebreakers
In the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Diego Padres are fighting for the division crown. The Dodgers have already won the season series against the Diamondbacks, giving them the tiebreaker in that matchup. However, the Padres hold the tiebreaker over the Dodgers. The Diamondbacks and Padres are tied 5-5 in their head-to-head series, with three critical games left from September 27-29. If the Padres win two out of three, they will claim the tiebreaker over both rivals and could secure the division.
NL Wild Card Tiebreakers
The NL Wild Card race is also packed with contenders, including the Braves, Mets, Diamondbacks, and Padres. The New York Mets have the upper hand, holding tiebreakers over both the Diamondbacks and Padres. The Atlanta Braves won the head-to-head series against Arizona, but they lost the series to San Diego. The Diamondbacks are at a disadvantage in the Wild Card race as they do not hold any tiebreakers. If Atlanta and the Mets finish tied, their upcoming series from September 24-26 will determine the tiebreaker and likely decide a Wild Card spot.
Tiebreakers by Team - Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles are in a strong position with head-to-head tiebreakers over the Royals and Mariners. They also lead the head-to-head series with the Yankees and Twins, though those matchups are yet to be decided. Their tiebreaker advantage could secure them a first-round bye or a higher Wild Card seed.
Tiebreakers by Team - Detroit Tigers
The Tigers do not hold many tiebreakers. They lost their season series against both the Twins and Royals, hurting their chances if they end up tied with those teams. However, Detroit does hold a tiebreaker over the Mariners, giving them a slight advantage in the Wild Card race.
Tiebreakers by Team - Kansas City Royals
The Royals have key tiebreakers over the Guardians and Tigers, which could help them win the AL Central or secure a Wild Card spot. They lost the head-to-head matchups with the Twins and Orioles, so they will need to outperform those teams to secure a playoff spot outright.
Tiebreakers by Team - Minnesota Twins
The Twins are in a great position with head-to-head tiebreakers over the Royals, Tigers, and Mariners. However, they lost their series against the Orioles, making their September 27-29 games against Baltimore critical in deciding potential tiebreakers.
Tiebreakers by Team - Houston Astros
The Astros are in a tight race for the AL West. They are trailing the Mariners in their head-to-head series, but with three games remaining, Houston still has a chance to flip the tiebreaker. If they sweep the Mariners in that final series, they will hold the AL West tiebreaker.
Tiebreakers by Team - New York Yankees
The Yankees trail the Orioles in their head-to-head matchup but could still win the tiebreaker with a sweep in their final series. The AL East crown could hinge on that three-game stretch from September 24-26.
Tiebreakers by Team - Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks do not hold tiebreakers over the Dodgers, Braves, or Mets, leaving them in a tough position for the postseason. Their season series against the Padres is still tied at 5-5, with a crucial series from September 27-29 set to determine the tiebreaker and the fate of both teams.
Tiebreakers by Team - Atlanta Braves
The Braves have secured the tiebreaker over the Diamondbacks, but they lost to the Padres. Their upcoming series against the Mets could decide their Wild Card fate. A sweep by either team could change the entire outlook of the postseason for both Atlanta and New York.
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MLB Tiebreaker Rules Overview
In 2022, MLB introduced the third Wild Card team to the postseason and eliminated tiebreaker games. Now, ties for playoff spots or seeding are decided through regular-season results, making it essential for teams to perform well throughout the year. The primary tiebreaker is head-to-head records between the tied teams. If the head-to-head record is even, the next tiebreaker is the teams' intradivision records. If the tie remains, more intricate tiebreakers, like interleague or last half of intraleague games, can come into play. With so many close races, these tiebreakers are critical for determining who makes the postseason and in what order.
*Standings and tiebreakers before September 17 games
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
