Countdown to the MLB Playoffs: Yankees clinch playoff berth

The hunt to play baseball in October is heating up.

A handful of MLB division races could come down to the wire, and each wild-card spot is still up for grabs.

The top two division winners in each league will receive byes to the Division Series. The other four teams in each league will play best-of-three series in the wild-card round, with the higher seed hosting all three games.

Here’s where the playoff race stands in both leagues through Thursday night.

NL WEST

The Los Angeles Dodgers (103-46) own the best record in the sport and clinched the division title last Tuesday. The San Diego Padres (83-67) hold the second wild card.

NL EAST

The New York Mets (95-56) and Atlanta Braves (93-57) are in a slugfest for the NL East, with New York 1.5 games ahead of Atlanta. Both teams have clinched playoff berths, but neither has secured the division. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies (82-67) are third in the NL wild-card picture.

NL CENTRAL

The St. Louis Cardinals (88-63) have been one of the hottest teams since the All-Star break and subsequently powered themselves to the top of the NL Central. On the other hand, the Milwaukee Brewers (80-70) are 7.5 games out of first in the division and 2.5 games out of the wild card.

NL WILD-CARD STANDINGS

No. 1: Atlanta Braves (clinched playoff spot)

No. 2: San Diego Padres

No. 3: Philadelphia Phillies

AL WEST

The Houston Astros (99-52) clinched the AL West, while the Seattle Mariners (82-67) are the third AL wild card.

AL EAST

The New York Yankees (91-58) remain atop the AL East, holding a 7.5-game lead on the Toronto Blue Jays (84-66). N.Y. also clinched a playoff spot with its win Thursday. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays (83-67) are 4.5 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles (78-71).

AL CENTRAL

In a division that has changed all summer, the Cleveland Guardians (83-67) are seven games ahead of the Chicago White Sox (76-74). The Minnesota Twins (73-77), who were atop the division throughout the first half, are now 10 games out of first.

AL WILD-CARD STANDINGS

No. 1: Toronto Blue Jays

No. 2: Tampa Bay Rays

No. 3: Seattle Mariners