UPDATED: 09/27/2026 2:07PM

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — It all comes down to Game 162.

The final day of Major League Baseball's regular season has arrived with 10 postseason teams secured and two spots still available.

Houston and Texas enter Sunday tied for the AL West lead, with the division champion advancing to October and the other team's season ending.

In the National League, Philadelphia holds a one-game advantage over Arizona for the final Wild Card spot.

Both races could be decided simultaneously Sunday afternoon.

Here are the four games that will determine the final two teams in the 2026 postseason:

Rays at Phillies — Underway

Philadelphia controls its own path to October.

The Phillies entered Sunday 87-74, one game ahead of Arizona for the third and final National League Wild Card berth.

Philadelphia and Tampa Bay are scoreless early in Sunday's regular-season finale.

The equation for the Phillies is simple: Win and they're in.

Philadelphia would also reach the postseason with an Arizona loss to San Diego.

The situation becomes more complicated if the Phillies lose and Arizona wins. The Diamondbacks own the tiebreaker over Philadelphia, meaning that combination would allow Arizona to jump the Phillies and claim the final Wild Card spot.

Philadelphia has lost four consecutive games entering Sunday, allowing what had been a comfortable lead in the Wild Card race to disappear during the final week.

Astros at Athletics — 2:05 p.m.

Houston enters Game 162 with complete control of the AL West race.

The Astros and Rangers are both 80-81 after Houston beat the Athletics and Texas defeated Minnesota on Saturday.

Houston owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Texas.

That means an Astros win Sunday would clinch the AL West regardless of what happens in the Rangers-Twins game.

Houston would also clinch the division with a Texas loss.

If both teams win or both teams lose, the Astros advance because the clubs would finish with identical records and Houston owns the tiebreaker.

The AL West champion will earn the American League's No. 3 seed and host the Chicago White Sox in the Wild Card Series.

The losing team's season is over.

Diamondbacks at Padres — 2:10 p.m.

Arizona needs a win and some help.

The Diamondbacks enter Sunday 86-75, one game behind Philadelphia for the final NL Wild Card berth.

Arizona owns the tiebreaker over the Phillies, which creates a clear path to October.

If the Diamondbacks beat San Diego and Philadelphia loses to Tampa Bay, the teams would finish tied at 87-75 and Arizona would earn the final postseason spot.

Anything else sends Philadelphia to the playoffs.

Arizona has put itself in this position with a late-season surge while Philadelphia has stumbled down the stretch.

San Diego has already clinched the National League's top Wild Card spot and No. 4 seed, meaning the postseason implications in this game belong entirely to Arizona.

Rangers at Twins — 2:10 p.m.

Texas has no margin for error.

The Rangers enter Sunday tied with Houston at 80-81 but lose the tiebreaker to the Astros.

Because of that, Texas cannot reach the postseason simply by matching Houston's result.

The Rangers must beat Minnesota and have the Astros lose to the Athletics.

That is the only combination that would send Texas to the postseason.

If Texas loses, Houston automatically wins the AL West.

If Texas wins and Houston also wins, the Astros take the division because the teams would finish tied at 81-81 and Houston owns the tiebreaker.

For Texas, Sunday's objective is straightforward: Win, then hope for help from Oakland.

What to watch

After 161 games, four teams remain alive for two postseason berths.

Houston has the advantage over Texas because of the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Astros clinch the AL West with a win or a Rangers loss. Texas needs both a win and a Houston loss.

Philadelphia similarly controls its path to the final National League Wild Card.

The Phillies clinch with a win or an Arizona loss. The Diamondbacks need both a win and a Philadelphia loss.

Every other playoff spot and division championship has already been decided.

The Milwaukee Brewers will enter the postseason as the National League's No. 1 seed after securing the best record in baseball, while Tampa Bay owns the American League's No. 1 seed.

Cleveland and Los Angeles have secured the other first-round byes.

San Diego, Chicago and the winner of the Philadelphia-Arizona race will make up the NL Wild Card field, while the Yankees, Red Sox and White Sox are locked into the AL Wild Card positions.

By the end of Sunday afternoon, the entire 12-team postseason bracket will finally be set.

UPDATED: 09/26/2026 9:10PM

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Major League Baseball's final Saturday of the regular season has provided some answers, but the two remaining postseason berths will come down to the final day.

Cleveland officially secured the AL Central and a first-round bye Saturday, while Texas kept its AL West hopes alive with a win.

The final National League Wild Card remains unsettled as Philadelphia and Arizona play pivotal games Saturday night.

Here's where the postseason picture stands as of Saturday night:

Guardians clinch AL Central after win, White Sox loss

The AL Central race is officially over.

Cleveland beat Kansas City 11-5 on Saturday while the Chicago White Sox lost 9-6 to Colorado, giving the Guardians an insurmountable two-game advantage with one game remaining.

Cleveland improves to 85-76 and has secured the American League's No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.

The White Sox fall to 83-78 and are locked into the third AL Wild Card spot and No. 6 seed.

That means Chicago will face the eventual AL West champion in the best-of-three Wild Card Series.

Rangers beat Twins, put pressure on Astros

Texas did its part Saturday afternoon.

The Rangers beat Minnesota 6-2 to improve to 80-81 and temporarily move one-half game ahead of Houston in the AL West.

The Astros entered Saturday night 79-81 and are currently playing the Athletics.

Houston owns the head-to-head tiebreaker against Texas, meaning the Rangers must finish the regular season with a better record than the Astros to win the division.

Regardless of the result of Houston's game Saturday night, the AL West will be decided Sunday.

If Houston wins Saturday, the Astros and Rangers would enter the final day tied at 80-81, with Houston holding the tiebreaker.

If Houston loses, Texas would carry a one-game lead into Sunday. However, an Astros win combined with a Rangers loss on the final day would leave the teams tied, allowing Houston to win the division on the tiebreaker.

The AL West champion will earn the No. 3 seed. The other team's season will be over.

Astros at Athletics — LIVE

Houston entered Saturday night's game needing to keep pace with Texas.

The Astros currently lead the Athletics 1-0.

A Houston win would leave the Astros and Rangers tied entering Sunday's finale, but Houston would effectively control its own destiny because of the tiebreaker.

In that scenario, the Astros would win the AL West on Sunday by matching the Rangers' result.

Texas would need to win and have Houston lose to take the division.

Rays at Phillies — LIVE

Philadelphia's grip on the final National League Wild Card is in serious danger.

The Phillies entered Saturday 87-73, one game ahead of Arizona.

Tampa Bay currently leads Philadelphia 10-0.

Arizona owns the tiebreaker over Philadelphia, making every game particularly important. If the Phillies lose and the Diamondbacks win Saturday night, the teams would enter Sunday tied in the standings with Arizona holding the final postseason spot because of the tiebreaker.

Philadelphia therefore cannot rely on simply finishing tied with Arizona.

The Phillies must finish the regular season with a better record than the Diamondbacks to reach the postseason.

Diamondbacks at Padres — LIVE

Arizona has an opportunity to completely change the NL Wild Card race Saturday night.

The Diamondbacks entered the game 86-74, one game behind Philadelphia, and currently lead San Diego 4-3.

If Arizona wins and Philadelphia loses, the Diamondbacks and Phillies would enter Sunday's regular-season finales with identical 87-74 records.

Because Arizona owns the tiebreaker, the Diamondbacks would control their own path to the postseason.

A Diamondbacks win would mean Arizona could clinch the final Wild Card on Sunday by matching Philadelphia's result.

The game also matters for San Diego's postseason positioning.

The Padres entered Saturday 89-71 and one game ahead of the Cubs for the National League's top Wild Card position.

A San Diego win Saturday would clinch the No. 4 seed and home-field advantage in the Wild Card Series.

A Padres loss would keep the door open for Chicago to take the No. 4 seed Sunday. The Cubs own the tiebreaker over San Diego.

Brewers reach 102 wins

Milwaukee's postseason position is already secure, but the Brewers continued adding to their historic regular season Saturday.

The Brewers beat St. Louis 3-2 to improve to a major league-best 102-59.

Milwaukee has already secured the NL Central, the National League's No. 1 seed and the best record in Major League Baseball.

That guarantees the Brewers home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

What remains for Sunday

Two postseason spots remain undecided entering the final day of the regular season: the AL West championship and the final NL Wild Card.

Texas and Houston will settle the AL West, with the Astros owning the tiebreaker.

Philadelphia and Arizona will decide the final NL Wild Card, with the Diamondbacks owning that tiebreaker.

The final day could also determine whether San Diego or Chicago hosts a Wild Card Series.

One race that will not require any more scoreboard watching is the AL Central.

Cleveland's win and Chicago's loss Saturday officially locked the Guardians into the No. 2 seed and sent the White Sox to the Wild Card round.

Everything else comes down to Sunday.

UPDATED: 09/25/2026 2:22PM

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — The final weekend of the Major League Baseball regular season has arrived, and only two spots remain available in the postseason field.

Ten teams have officially clinched playoff berths, including the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres, who all secured their spots Thursday.

The Milwaukee Brewers also accomplished their final regular-season objective Thursday, securing the National League's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

That leaves two primary battles entering Friday: Houston and Texas are tied for the AL West title and the league's final playoff berth, while Philadelphia holds a two-game advantage over Arizona for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Several postseason seeds also remain undecided.

Here are seven games and matchups to watch Friday:

Cubs at Red Sox — Doubleheader FINAL | CHC 3 BOS 4 | FINAL | CHC 0 BOS 2

Both teams have secured postseason berths, but their positioning remains unsettled.

Chicago enters Friday 88-71 and one game behind San Diego for the top NL Wild Card spot.

The Cubs own tiebreakers over San Diego and Philadelphia and can clinch at least the No. 5 seed with two wins over Boston or one win combined with a Phillies loss to Tampa Bay.

Boston enters Friday 85-74 and currently holds the second AL Wild Card position.

The Red Sox can lock up the No. 5 seed with a win in either game of Friday's doubleheader or a White Sox loss to Colorado.

Boston would then be guaranteed to face the Yankees in the Wild Card Series.

The second game was moved up to 4:35 p.m. CT because of potential severe weather in Boston.

Rays at Phillies — FINAL | TB 2 PHI 0

Philadelphia has an opportunity to take a major step toward securing the final available National League playoff spot.

The Phillies enter Friday 87-72, two games ahead of Arizona for the third and final NL Wild Card berth.

Philadelphia can clinch a postseason berth Friday with a win over Tampa Bay combined with a Diamondbacks loss to San Diego.

Arizona owns the tiebreaker over Philadelphia, meaning the Phillies cannot simply finish tied with the Diamondbacks.

The Rays have already clinched the AL East and the American League's No. 1 seed, leaving Philadelphia with considerably more at stake in the series opener.

Guardians at Royals — FINAL | CLE 12 KC 9

The playoff berth is secured. Now Cleveland is playing for a division championship and a first-round bye.

The Guardians enter Friday 83-76 with a one-game advantage over the White Sox in the AL Central.

Chicago owns the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning Cleveland must finish with a better record than the White Sox to win the division.

The math is straightforward entering the weekend: If Cleveland matches Chicago's record over the final three games, the Guardians win the AL Central.

The division champion will earn the No. 2 seed in the American League and advance directly to the Division Series.

Rockies at White Sox — FINAL | COL 1 CHW 6

Chicago is officially headed to the postseason, but the White Sox still have an opportunity to jump Cleveland for the AL Central title.

The White Sox enter Friday 82-77, one game behind the Guardians.

Because Chicago owns the tiebreaker, the White Sox only need to gain one game on Cleveland during the final weekend to win the division.

A White Sox win combined with a Guardians loss Friday would put the teams in a tie entering Saturday — but Chicago would effectively control the division because of the tiebreaker.

The AL Central winner will receive a first-round bye, while the runner-up will enter the Wild Card Series.

Rangers at Twins — FINAL | TEX 2 MIN 6

For Texas, the entire season has come down to the final three games.

The Rangers enter Friday 79-80 and tied with Houston atop the AL West.

Neither team can reach the postseason through the Wild Card. The division championship is now the only path to October for both clubs.

Texas is at a disadvantage in a tie because Houston won the season series between the teams.

That means the Rangers must finish with a better record than the Astros over the final weekend to win the AL West.

With Houston beginning its game later Friday night, Texas has the first opportunity to put pressure on the Astros.

Astros at Athletics — FINAL | HOU 5 ATH 6

Houston enters the final weekend in the driver's seat despite being tied with Texas.

The Astros and Rangers are both 79-80, but Houston owns the head-to-head tiebreaker after winning nine of 13 meetings between the teams this season.

That means Houston simply needs to match Texas' record over the final three games to capture the AL West.

If the Astros and Rangers finish with identical records, Houston wins the division and advances to the postseason while Texas is eliminated.

The AL West champion will be the No. 3 seed and host a best-of-three Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday.

Diamondbacks at Padres — FINAL | ARI 11 SD 4

Arizona's season is on the line in San Diego.

The Diamondbacks enter Friday 85-74, two games behind Philadelphia for the final NL Wild Card position.

Arizona does own the tiebreaker over Philadelphia, keeping the Diamondbacks alive if they can close the gap before the regular season ends.

A Phillies win combined with a Diamondbacks loss Friday, however, would officially eliminate Arizona and send Philadelphia to the postseason.

San Diego has already clinched a playoff spot but still has something significant to play for.

The Padres enter Friday 89-70 and hold a one-game advantage over the Cubs for the top NL Wild Card position.

San Diego can clinch the No. 4 seed and home-field advantage in the Wild Card Series with a win over Arizona combined with a Phillies loss and two Cubs losses in Friday's doubleheader.

What to watch

Only two postseason berths remain available entering the final weekend.

In the American League, Houston and Texas are tied for the AL West lead at 79-80. The winner of the division goes to the postseason. The loser goes home.

Houston holds the tiebreaker, meaning Texas needs to gain at least one game on the Astros during the final three games.

Cleveland and Chicago have both clinched postseason spots but remain separated by one game in the AL Central. The Guardians lead, but the White Sox own the tiebreaker.

In the National League, Philadelphia has a two-game advantage over Arizona for the final Wild Card berth, though the Diamondbacks own the tiebreaker.

The Cubs, Padres and Phillies are also still battling for Wild Card seeding.

For the Brewers, the scoreboard watching is finally over.

Milwaukee enters the final weekend 100-59 and has officially secured the No. 1 seed in the National League, guaranteeing home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

UPDATED: 09/25/2026 7:38AM

UPDATED: 09/24/2026 2:40PM

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — With only four days remaining in Major League Baseball's regular season, Thursday could go a long way toward completing the postseason field.

Six teams — the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox — have already secured playoff spots.

Five more teams have opportunities to join them Thursday, while the AL Central and AL West remain undecided.

Milwaukee also has a chance to accomplish its final regular-season goal: securing the National League's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Here are eight games to watch Thursday:

White Sox at Royals — FINAL | CHW 9 KC 1

Chicago has a chance to officially punch its ticket to October.

The White Sox enter Thursday 81-77, one game behind Cleveland in the AL Central and three games ahead of Texas and Houston in the race for the final AL Wild Card spot.

Chicago can clinch a postseason berth simply by beating Kansas City.

The division remains very much in play as well.

The White Sox own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Cleveland, meaning Chicago would win the AL Central if the teams finish the regular season with identical records.

Marlins at Cubs — FINAL | MIA 1 CHC 2

Chicago is also on the verge of securing a postseason berth on the National League side.

The Cubs enter Thursday 87-71 and tied with Philadelphia in the Wild Card standings, one game behind San Diego.

Chicago can clinch a postseason berth with a win over Miami or an Arizona loss at Colorado.

The Cubs also own the tiebreaker over both Philadelphia and San Diego, which could become important as the three teams battle for Wild Card positioning and home-field advantage in the opening round.

Mets at Rangers — FINAL | NYM 1 TEX 3

Texas enters Thursday tied with Houston atop the AL West at 78-80.

The Rangers, however, do not own the tiebreaker against the Astros.

That means Texas would need to finish with a better record than Houston to win the division if the teams remain tied entering the final days of the season.

The Rangers are also three games behind the White Sox for the final AL Wild Card spot, but Chicago owns that tiebreaker as well.

A Texas loss would also automatically clinch a postseason berth for Cleveland, regardless of what the Guardians do later Thursday.

Diamondbacks at Rockies — FINAL | ARI 12 COL 8

Arizona is running out of opportunities to keep its postseason hopes alive.

The Diamondbacks enter Thursday 84-74, three games behind both Chicago and Philadelphia for the final two NL Wild Card positions.

Arizona does own the tiebreaker over Philadelphia, giving the Diamondbacks a potential path if they can close the gap over the final four games.

A Diamondbacks loss Thursday, however, would have consequences elsewhere.

Both the Cubs and Padres would clinch postseason berths with an Arizona loss, regardless of the results of their own games.

Brewers at Phillies — FINAL | MIL 5 PHI 1

There is plenty at stake for both teams in Philadelphia.

The Brewers enter Thursday with baseball's best record at 99-59 and a two-game advantage over the Dodgers for the best record in the National League.

Milwaukee can officially secure the NL's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason with a win over Philadelphia combined with a Dodgers loss to San Diego later Thursday night.

The Brewers own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Los Angeles, meaning the Dodgers would have to finish with a better record than Milwaukee to pass them.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, is trying to secure its own postseason berth.

The Phillies enter 87-71 and can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Milwaukee combined with a loss by either Arizona or San Diego.

Guardians at Red Sox — FINAL | CLE 1 BOS 0

Cleveland has multiple ways to officially lock down a postseason spot Thursday.

The Guardians enter 82-76 with a one-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central.

Cleveland can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Boston, a Texas loss to the Mets or a Houston loss to the Athletics.

Winning the division remains particularly important because the AL Central champion is in position to earn the American League's No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.

Cleveland does not own the tiebreaker against Chicago, leaving little margin for error with four games remaining.

Astros at Athletics — FINAL | HOU 7 ATH 5

The AL West remains completely up for grabs.

Houston and Texas enter Thursday tied at 78-80, but the Astros hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rangers.

That gives Houston an important advantage: If the Astros and Rangers finish with identical records, Houston would win the division.

The Astros remain alive for the final Wild Card berth as well, sitting three games behind Chicago, though the division represents their clearest path to October.

A Houston loss would also clinch a postseason berth for Cleveland.

Padres at Dodgers — FINAL | SD 4 LAD 2

The final game of the night could have implications across the National League postseason bracket.

San Diego enters Thursday 88-70 and holds the top NL Wild Card position, one game ahead of Chicago and Philadelphia.

The Padres can clinch a postseason berth with a win over Los Angeles or an Arizona loss earlier in the day.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, enter 97-61 and remain two games behind Milwaukee for the National League's best record.

Los Angeles can clinch a first-round bye with a win over San Diego or an Atlanta loss to Cincinnati.

For Brewers fans, the equation is even more important.

If Milwaukee beats Philadelphia and San Diego beats Los Angeles, the Brewers would clinch the National League's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

What to watch

Thursday has the potential to dramatically reduce the number of unanswered questions entering the final weekend of the regular season.

Cleveland and the White Sox can each clinch postseason berths while continuing their battle for the AL Central. Houston and Texas remain tied atop the AL West, with the Astros holding the decisive tiebreaker.

In the National League, San Diego, Chicago and Philadelphia can all secure playoff spots, while Arizona is trying to keep its season alive.

Then there are the Brewers.

Milwaukee enters Thursday at 99-59, two games ahead of Los Angeles and one victory away from reaching 100 wins for the first time in franchise history.

A Brewers win and Dodgers loss Thursday would do even more than make history.

It would guarantee Milwaukee the No. 1 seed in the National League and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

UPDATED: 09/23/2026 2:08PM

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — With just five games remaining for most Major League Baseball teams, several postseason races could take major steps toward being settled Wednesday night.

Six teams — the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox — have already secured postseason berths.

Five more teams can join them Wednesday, while the American League Central and AL West remain separated by just one game or less.

For Brewers fans, the battle for the National League's No. 1 seed also remains tight, with Los Angeles sitting just one game behind Milwaukee.

Here are four games to watch Wednesday:

Guardians at Red Sox — FINAL | CLE 0 BOS 1

Cleveland has an opportunity to secure its place in October while trying to protect a narrow division lead.

The Guardians enter Wednesday 82-75 and one game ahead of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

Cleveland can clinch a postseason berth with a win over Boston combined with a loss by either Texas against the New York Mets or Houston against Seattle.

The Guardians cannot afford to take a tie with Chicago lightly. The White Sox own the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning Cleveland would need to finish with a better record to win the AL Central if the two teams remain even down the stretch.

Boston has already clinched a postseason berth and currently occupies the second AL Wild Card position.

White Sox at Royals — FINAL | CWS 4 KC 5

Chicago has two goals remaining: get into the postseason and chase down Cleveland for the AL Central title.

The White Sox enter Wednesday 81-76, one game behind the Guardians and three games ahead of Texas and Houston in the race for the final AL Wild Card spot.

Chicago can officially clinch a postseason berth with a win over Kansas City combined with a Rangers loss to the Mets.

The White Sox also own the season tiebreaker against Cleveland, giving Chicago an important advantage if the teams finish tied atop the division.

With Cleveland playing in Boston at nearly the same time, the AL Central standings could look considerably different by the end of the night.

Astros at Mariners — FINAL/10 | HOU 5 SEA 6

The AL West is completely deadlocked.

Houston and Texas both enter Wednesday 78-79, but the Astros currently hold the division lead because they own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rangers.

Houston moved back into that position with a win over Seattle on Tuesday.

The Rangers host the Mets earlier Wednesday night, meaning Houston could take the field already knowing whether it has an opportunity to move into sole possession of first place.

The Astros also remain involved in several postseason clinching scenarios elsewhere in the American League.

A Houston loss, combined with a Cleveland win, would send the Guardians to the postseason. If Cleveland wins and both Houston and Texas lose, the eventual AL Central champion would also be guaranteed a first-round bye.

Padres at Dodgers — FINAL | SD 5 LAD 1

This game has major implications on both sides — including for the Brewers.

San Diego enters Wednesday 87-70 and tied with the Cubs and Phillies in the National League Wild Card standings.

The Padres can clinch a postseason berth with a win over Los Angeles combined with an Arizona loss at Colorado.

Los Angeles has already won the NL West, but the Dodgers remain locked in a race with Milwaukee for the National League's No. 1 seed.

The Brewers enter Wednesday 98-59, one game ahead of the 97-60 Dodgers.

Milwaukee owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Los Angeles, meaning the Brewers would claim the top seed if the teams finish with identical records.

With five games remaining for each team entering Wednesday, Milwaukee's magic number to secure the National League's No. 1 seed is four.

A Dodgers loss would reduce that number regardless of what happens between the Brewers and Phillies earlier Wednesday night.

What to watch

Wednesday could significantly clarify the postseason field.

Cleveland and the White Sox can both clinch spots while continuing their head-to-head battle for the AL Central. Houston and Texas enter the day tied atop the AL West, with the Astros holding the tiebreaker.

The National League Wild Card race could also begin to settle.

Chicago can clinch with a win over Miami or an Arizona loss. Philadelphia can clinch with a win over Milwaukee combined with a loss by either Arizona or San Diego, while the Padres can get in with a win and a Diamondbacks loss.

For Milwaukee, the biggest scoreboard-watching game comes late.

The Brewers have already clinched the NL Central and a first-round bye. Now, with Los Angeles only one game behind, the final objective is securing the National League's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage through the NL playoffs.

UPDATED: 09/20/2026 2:08PM

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — The final Sunday before the end of Major League Baseball's regular season brings several games with major postseason implications.

Five teams — the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves — have already clinched postseason berths entering Sunday's action.

Boston can become the next team to punch its ticket, while Atlanta can wrap up the NL East. Meanwhile, the AL Central, AL West and final Wild Card spots remain up for grabs.

For Brewers fans, the race for the National League's No. 1 seed remains another reason to keep an eye on the scoreboard.

Here are four games to watch Sunday:

Red Sox at Rays — FINAL | BOS 1 TB 5

Boston enters Sunday on the doorstep of October.

The Red Sox are 84-71 and hold the second AL Wild Card spot, with their magic number to secure a postseason berth down to one.

A Boston win over Tampa Bay would officially clinch a playoff berth. The Red Sox would also get in with a Houston loss to Atlanta.

Tampa Bay has already secured a postseason berth and enters Sunday 94-60 with a five-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

The Rays' magic number to clinch the division is four, with a four-game series against New York looming beginning Tuesday.

Braves at Astros — FINAL | ATL 4 HOU 2

This matchup carries significant implications in both leagues.

Atlanta enters Sunday 91-64 and needs just one more win — or one Philadelphia loss — to officially clinch the NL East.

The Braves have already secured a postseason berth but remain behind Milwaukee and Los Angeles in the race for one of the National League's two first-round byes.

Houston, meanwhile, is fighting for its postseason life.

The Astros enter Sunday 77-78, one game behind Texas in the AL West and two games behind the Chicago White Sox for the final AL Wild Card spot.

Houston owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over both Texas and Chicago, which could become critical if the Astros are able to make up ground during the final week.

Blue Jays at Rangers — FINAL | TOR 7 TEX 2

Texas enters Sunday alone atop the AL West.

The Rangers are 78-77 and hold a one-game advantage over Houston after winning the first two games of their series against Toronto.

Texas does not own the tiebreaker over Houston, meaning the Rangers would need to finish with a better record than the Astros to win the division if those two teams are battling for the AL West title on the final day.

Toronto remains alive in the Wild Card race at 76-79, three games behind the White Sox for the final postseason spot.

The Blue Jays have little room remaining for error, especially because Chicago owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Toronto.

Giants at Dodgers — FINAL | SF 1 LAD 3

Brewers fans have another reason to keep an eye on Los Angeles.

The Dodgers enter Sunday 95-60, two games behind Milwaukee for the best record in the National League.

Milwaukee enters its Sunday night game against Baltimore at 97-58 and owns the season tiebreaker over Los Angeles after winning four of seven meetings between the teams.

That means the Dodgers would need to finish with a better record than the Brewers to take the National League's No. 1 seed.

Milwaukee's magic number to secure a first-round bye is two entering Sunday.

A Dodgers loss would also move the Brewers another step closer to securing the NL's top seed and home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs.

What to watch

The American League remains the center of the postseason drama entering the final week.

Cleveland holds a one-game advantage over the White Sox in the AL Central, while Texas leads Houston by one game in the AL West.

Chicago currently occupies the final Wild Card spot, with Houston two games back, Toronto three games behind and Baltimore four games out.

In the National League, Atlanta can officially close out the NL East race Sunday, while the Cubs and Padres enter the day tied for the top Wild Card position and Philadelphia sits one game behind both teams.

For Milwaukee, the remaining focus is seeding.

The Brewers have already wrapped up the NL Central and enter Sunday with baseball's best record. With the Dodgers two games behind and Milwaukee holding the tiebreaker, the Brewers control their path to the No. 1 seed with seven games remaining.

This article will be updated daily.

UPDATED: 09/19/2026 2:36PM

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — The Major League Baseball postseason picture continues to take shape with just over a week remaining in the regular season.

Five teams — the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves — have officially secured postseason berths.

Boston could become the sixth team to punch its ticket Saturday, while the American League West is completely deadlocked and several teams remain alive for the final AL Wild Card spot.

Meanwhile, Brewers fans still have plenty to scoreboard watch as Milwaukee attempts to hold off Los Angeles for the National League's No. 1 seed.

Here are four games to keep an eye on Saturday:

Red Sox at Rays — BOS 1 TB 2

Boston has an opportunity to officially secure its place in October.

The Red Sox enter Saturday 84-70 and comfortably holding the second AL Wild Card spot.

Boston can clinch a postseason berth with a win over Tampa Bay combined with either a Texas loss to Toronto or a Houston loss to Atlanta later Saturday.

The Rays have already clinched a playoff berth and enter Saturday 93-60 with a four-game advantage over the Yankees in the AL East.

Tampa Bay is also battling for one of the American League's two first-round byes.

Blue Jays at Rangers — FINAL | TOR 2 TEX 6

The AL West could hardly be tighter.

Texas and Houston both enter Saturday 77-77 and tied for first place, though the Astros currently own the division lead because they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rangers.

Texas also remains directly in the AL Wild Card race.

The Rangers enter one game behind the Chicago White Sox for the final Wild Card spot, while Toronto is two games back.

Texas owns the tiebreaker over Toronto, making Saturday's matchup particularly important for both teams.

A Rangers loss, combined with a Boston win earlier in the afternoon, would also send the Red Sox to the postseason.

Braves at Astros — FINAL | ATL 6 HOU 3

One night after Atlanta clinched a postseason berth, the Braves can continue moving closer to an NL East championship while Houston tries to maintain control of the AL West.

Atlanta enters Saturday 90-64 with a five-game lead over Philadelphia and a magic number of three to clinch the division.

Houston, meanwhile, is tied with Texas at 77-77 atop the AL West but holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Astros would therefore win the division if the two teams ultimately finish the regular season with identical records.

Houston is also involved in Boston's clinching scenario. A Red Sox win combined with an Astros loss would secure a playoff berth for Boston.

Giants at Dodgers — SF 4 LAD 10

Once again, this is the late game Brewers fans should keep an eye on.

Los Angeles enters Saturday 94-60 after beating San Francisco on Friday night, remaining two games behind Milwaukee for the best record in the National League.

The Brewers enter Saturday 96-58 and own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Dodgers.

That means Los Angeles cannot simply finish tied with Milwaukee. The Dodgers would need to finish with a better record to claim the NL's No. 1 seed.

Milwaukee's magic number to secure a first-round bye is three, while the Brewers continue to close in on locking up the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs.

Every Brewers win and Dodgers loss over the final eight games pushes Milwaukee closer to securing that path through October.

What to watch

Saturday could bring another postseason clinch, but the biggest chaos remains in the American League.

Cleveland entered the day with a one-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central, while Houston and Texas are tied atop the AL West. The White Sox, Rangers, Blue Jays and Orioles also remain separated by just three games in the fight for the final AL Wild Card spot.

In the National League, Atlanta is closing in on the NL East title, while the Cubs, Phillies and Padres all enter Saturday at 85-69 and tied in the standings as they battle for Wild Card seeding.

For Milwaukee, the objective is increasingly clear: keep winning and keep Los Angeles behind them.

With eight games remaining, the Brewers control their path to the National League's No. 1 seed.

This article will be updated daily.

UPDATED: 09/18/2026 2:11PM

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — With the Major League Baseball regular season nearing its finish, several postseason races remain wide open heading into Friday night.

Four teams — the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees — have already secured postseason berths, while the Brewers and Dodgers have clinched their respective divisions.

Plenty remains unsettled, particularly in the American League, where the AL Central is tied, the AL West is separated by one game and three teams sit within three games of the final Wild Card spot.

Here are four games to keep an eye on Friday night:

Athletics at Guardians — FINAL | ATH 3 CLE 5

Cleveland enters Friday tied with the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central at 78-75, though Chicago currently holds the division lead because it owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.

That leaves the Guardians holding the third and final AL Wild Card spot entering the night.

Cleveland has a two-game advantage over both Texas and Toronto, with Baltimore three games back. That makes every game critical as the Guardians open a series at home against the Athletics.

Cleveland does not hold the tiebreaker against either Texas or Toronto, adding even more importance to maintaining its advantage in the standings.

Blue Jays at Rangers — FINAL | TOR 1 TEX 7

Few games Friday carry more direct postseason implications than Toronto's trip to Texas.

The Blue Jays and Rangers both enter at 76-77, two games behind Cleveland for the final AL Wild Card berth.

For Texas, there is another path to October still very much in play. The Rangers are only one game behind the Houston Astros in the AL West.

Texas also owns the tiebreaker over both Toronto and Cleveland, meaning a strong finish could quickly change the postseason picture.

A Rangers win combined with a Guardians loss would pull Texas within one game of the final Wild Card spot. It could also move the Rangers into a tie for the AL West lead if Houston loses later Friday night.

Braves at Astros — FINAL | ATL 6 HOU 2

Both teams have something significant on the line in Houston.

Atlanta enters Friday 89-64 and four games ahead of Philadelphia in the NL East. The Braves can officially punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Astros.

Atlanta would also clinch a playoff berth if Arizona loses to the Yankees later Friday night.

Houston, meanwhile, enters at 77-76 with a one-game lead over Texas in the AL West.

The Astros own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rangers, but with less than two weeks remaining, Houston has little room for error with Texas directly behind it.

Giants at Dodgers — FINAL | SF 2 LAD 8

Brewers fans may want to stay up for the final game of the night.

Los Angeles has already clinched the NL West but still has plenty to play for when it hosts San Francisco.

The Dodgers enter Friday 93-60, two games behind the Brewers for the best record in the National League.

Milwaukee also owns the season tiebreaker over Los Angeles, meaning the Dodgers would have to finish with a better record than the Brewers to take the NL's No. 1 seed.

The Brewers enter Friday with a magic number of seven to secure the top seed in the National League. A Dodgers loss would knock that number down by one, regardless of what Milwaukee does against Baltimore.

What to watch

The American League remains the biggest source of drama entering Friday.

Chicago and Cleveland are tied atop the AL Central, Houston leads Texas by only one game in the AL West, and Cleveland, Texas, Toronto and Baltimore are all separated by just three games in the race for the final Wild Card spot.

In the National League, Atlanta has an opportunity to become the fifth team to clinch a postseason berth, while Milwaukee and Los Angeles continue their battle for the league's top seed and home-field advantage through the National League playoffs.

This article will be updated daily.

POSTED: 09/17/2026 02:58 PM

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — With the Major League Baseball regular season nearing its finish, several division and Wild Card races remain wide open heading into Thursday night's slate.

From a deadlocked American League West to a half-game race in the AL Central, a handful of games could reshape the postseason picture before the night is over.

Here are four games worth keeping an eye on Thursday.

Tigers at White Sox — Final | RESULT: DET 1 CHW 3

Few games carry more weight Thursday than Detroit's visit to Chicago.

The White Sox enter the night 77-75, just a half-game behind the 78-75 Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. Chicago also currently occupies the American League's final Wild Card spot, giving the White Sox two potential paths to October.

Detroit enters at 72-80 and is running out of time to keep its own postseason hopes alive.

A White Sox victory would keep the pressure on Cleveland in the division race while also helping Chicago protect its slim advantage over the teams chasing the final Wild Card.

Red Sox at Rangers — Final | RESULT: BOS 4 TEX 3

Texas finds itself in the middle of two races at once.

The Rangers enter Thursday 76-76, tied with Houston atop the AL West. Texas is also directly behind Chicago in the race for the final AL Wild Card spot.

That makes every remaining game critical, beginning with Thursday's matchup against Boston.

The Red Sox are 82-70 and currently hold the second AL Wild Card position, giving Boston considerably more breathing room than several of the teams fighting beneath it.

A Rangers win could have implications in both the AL West and Wild Card races depending on what happens in Houston and Chicago.

Royals at Astros — Final | RESULT: KC 2 HOU 6 

While Texas faces Boston, Houston will host Kansas City in another game with major AL West implications.

The Astros and Rangers both enter the night at 76-76, leaving virtually no margin for error as the regular season winds down.

Houston currently holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Texas, making the Astros' position particularly important if the clubs remain even in the standings.

Kansas City has been eliminated from postseason contention, but the Royals have an opportunity to play spoiler against a Houston team trying to secure another division championship.

Phillies at Mets — Final | RESULT: PHI 3 NYM 0

The tightest races are primarily in the American League, but Philadelphia still has plenty on the line in the National League.

The Phillies enter Thursday at 84-68, sitting a half-game behind the Chicago Cubs for the top NL Wild Card position.

Philadelphia is also still chasing Atlanta in the NL East, although the Braves hold a 4½-game advantage with the regular season quickly winding down.

The Phillies have some separation from San Diego in the Wild Card standings, but earning the top Wild Card position would give Philadelphia home-field advantage in the opening round.

The Mets have been eliminated, leaving New York in the role of spoiler during the four-game series.

What to watch

The American League should command most of the attention Thursday night.

Cleveland leads Chicago by just a half-game in the AL Central, Houston and Texas enter the night tied atop the AL West, and the White Sox hold only a narrow advantage in the battle for the final Wild Card berth.

With several of those contenders playing at nearly the same time, the playoff picture could look considerably different by the end of the night.

This article will be updated daily.