'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQG/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgX/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAJ9IC3//xAAgEAAABQQDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBQAREhMGIVEV/9oACAEBAAE/AIiAhpKTjDsYJmkPzzuTpLrnOU+tRPu/o38x7Gl4BpuUx43CFDIbADlwFf/EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADAQIi/9oACAECAQE/AHPuqcH/xAAdEQABAgcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAwQAAgUREoGx/9oACAEDAQE/AKewQdy5LC+yOGP/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The final series of the MLB season, excluding the rain-induced Monday doubleheader for the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, is upon us. And with just three games remaining, there's plenty at stake. Some teams have things wrapped up, though most seeding has not been locked in.
There are still seven teams still staving off elimination in both leagues. Many teams need a lot of help, but there can be absolute chaos in the final few days. Here's how things stand right now.
MLB postseason picture as final week begins
The MLB postseason will begin next month. Several teams have already clinched their spots. The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Guardians, and Philadelphia Phillies have already locked down their divisions and a first-round bye.
Trending
The Houston Astros have clinched their division but will play the wild-card round. This is true of the Milwaukee Brewers as well. The Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres are the only wild-card teams to have clinched by now.
The New York Mets currently hold a .001 percentage points lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are one game up on the Atlanta Braves for the final Wild Card berth. They are the only teams in the NL still fighting.
In the American League, the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals are tied for the second wild card. The Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins are three games back, so a win by the former two or a loss by the latter two eliminates Minnesota and Seattle.
That leaves the playoff picture as such: the Yankees currently hold the one seed and would face the winner of Royals-Orioles. The Guardians would take on the winner of Astros-Tigers.
In the National League, the Dodgers hold the top seed. They would face the winner of the Padres-Mets clash. The Phillies would take on whoever wins in Diamondbacks-Brewers.
This will all come down to Monday, though. The Mets and Braves have a doubleheader, presumably for the final playoff spot. One game separates them, which means one team needs to complete a sweep to get in. Unless the Diamondbacks fall flat in these final three games, both the Mets and Braves will be unable to make the MLB playoffs, leaving one on the outside looking in.
