Who has clinched an MLB playoff spot? Teams in the 2026 postseason field

October is starting to come into focus.

>Several MLB teams have already locked up postseason berths, but many of baseball's biggest races remain unsettled. The American League Central and AL West are still up for grabs, the final AL wild-card spot remains hotly contested and jockeying for National League wild-card positioning could continue until the season's final days.

>Here's every team that has clinched a playoff berth, along with the clubs that could be next and what the postseason bracket would look like if the season ended right now.

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Which MLB teams have clinched playoff berths?American League

New York Yankees (at least a wild card) • >Tampa Bay Rays (at least a wild card)National League

Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West) • >Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central)Which MLB teams have clinched divisions?Milwaukee Brewers: NL Central • >Los Angeles Dodgers: NL WestWho could clinch next?These are the teams closest to clinching divisions/playoff spots:

Atlanta Braves — 1 to clinch playoff berth (5 to clinch NL East) • >Boston Red Sox — 3 to clinch playoff berth • >Chicago Cubs — 4 to clinch playoff berth • >Milwaukee Brewers — 4 to clinch first-round bye • >New York Yankees — 4 to clinch at least No. 1 wild card • >Philadelphia Phillies — 5 to clinch playoff berth • >Los Angeles Dodgers — 6 to clinch first-round bye • >San Diego Padres — 6 to clinch playoff berth • >Tampa Bay Rays — 6 to clinch AL East and first-round bye • >Chicago White Sox — 7 to clinch playoff berth (9 to clinch AL Central) • >Cleveland Guardians — 8 to clinch playoff berth (10 to clinch AL Central) • >Houston Astros — 9 to clinch AL WestProjected MLB postseason bracketThis would be the playoff field if the season ended after games on Wednesday, Sept. 16:

>American League

Tampa Bay Rays (East) • >Chicago White Sox (Central) • >Houston Astros (West) • >New York Yankees (Wild card No. 1) • >Boston Red Sox (Wild card No. 2) • >Chicago White Sox (Wild card No. 3)National League

Milwaukee Brewers (Central) • >Los Angeles Dodgers (West) • >Atlanta Braves (East) • >Chicago Cubs (Wild card No. 1) • >Philadelphia Phillies (Wild card No. 2) • >San Diego Padres (Wild card No. 3)This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who has clinched an MLB playoff spot? Teams in the 2026 postseason field