What’s going on in the MLB? The Republic takes a look at baseball’s storylines
From Randy Arozarena’s big hitting performance against the Texas Rangers to the race for the postseason, here are some of the best stories from MLB just before the playoffs.
This story has been updated to reflect the situation as of 6:50 a.m. Thursday, September 20.
With the 2024 MLB postseason looming on the horizon, the defending National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks are looking to make another magical postseason run. Many of the circumstances that surrounded Arizona’s World Series appearance a year ago will repeat themselves in 2024. The Diamondbacks will enter the playoffs as a wild card team. They could well face the third-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the opening round, and then a matchup with the second-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers is scheduled.
Before the Diamondbacks can prove that 2023 was no fluke, however, they must secure a playoff spot. Despite holding a wild-card spot for most of the season, the Diamondbacks are not yet guaranteed to make the playoffs with only a handful of games remaining. Here’s the D-backs’ magic number for a postseason berth.
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What is the Diamondbacks’ magic number to reach the 2024 MLB postseason?
- Diamondbacks reach MLB postseason: 8
*Braves hold tiebreaker against Diamondbacks
Current MLB tables
American League:
AL East:
- x – New York Yankees: 89-64
- Baltimore Orioles: 85-68
- Boston Red Sox: 76-77
- Tampa Bay Rays: 75-78
- Toronto Blue Jays: 73-80
AL Central:
- x – Cleveland Guardians: 89-65
- Kansas City Royals: 82-71
- Detroit Tigers: 80-73
- Minnesota Twins: 80-73
- Chicago White Sox: 36-117
AL West:
- Houston Astros: 83-70
- Seattle Mariners: 78-75
- Texas Rangers: 73-80
- Oakland Athletics: 67-86
- Los Angeles Angels: 62-91
Bundesliga:
NL East:
- Philadelphia Phillies: 91-62
- New York Mets: 85-68
- Atlanta Braves: 83-70
- Washington Nationals: 68-85
- Miami Marlins: 56-97
NL Central:
- and – Milwaukee Brewers: 88-65
- Chicago Cubs: 78–75
- St. Louis Cardinals: 77-76
- Cincinnati Reds: 74–80
- Pittsburgh Pirates: 72-81
NL West:
- x – Los Angeles Dodgers: 91-62
- San Diego Padres: 87-66
- Arizona Diamondbacks: 85-68
- San Francisco Giants: 74-79
- Colorado Rockies: 59-94
x-clenched playoff spot thy-clenched division
When does the MLB postseason start?
Although the MLB regular season ends on Sunday, September 29, there is one day between the end of the regular season and the start of the postseason. The postseason begins with the Wild Card Series on Tuesday, October 1.
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