Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge going for history as AL playoff picture continues to form
USA TODAY Sports’ Gabe Lacques breaks down the storylines to watch in the AL as the MLB seasons winds down.
Sports Pulse
With star third baseman Jose Ramirez leading the way, the Cleveland Guardians are fighting their way back into the MLB playoff picture with an eight-game winning streak.
This is how things stand entering play on Saturday, Sept. 20:
What is the Guardians’ magic number to make the 2025 MLB postseason?Guardians to make AL wild card: 8Latest MLB standingsAmerican League:
AL East:
Toronto Blue Jays: 89-65New York Yankees: 86-68Boston Red Sox: 84-70e-Tampa Bay Rays: 75-79e-Baltimore Orioles: 73-81
AL Central:
Detroit Tigers: 85-69Cleveland Guardians: 82-71Kansas City Royals: 77-77e-Minnesota Twins: 66-87e-Chicago White Sox: 58-96
AL West:
Seattle Mariners: 85-69Houston Astros: 84-70Texas Rangers: 79-75e-Athletics: 73-81e-Los Angeles Angels: 69-85
AL Wild Card:
New York Yankees: 86-68Boston Red Sox: 84-70Houston Astros: 84-70Cleveland Guardians: 82-71Texas Rangers: 79-75Kansas City Royals: 77-77National League:
NL East:
y-Philadelphia Phillies: 92-62New York Mets: 80-74Miami Marlins: 74-80e-Atlanta Braves: 71-83e-Washington Nationals: 62-92
NL Central:
x-Milwaukee Brewers: 94-60x-Chicago Cubs: 88-66Cincinnati Reds: 78-76St. Louis Cardinals: 75-79e-Pittsburgh Pirates: 65-89
NL West:
x-Los Angeles Dodgers: 87-67San Diego Padres: 83-71Arizona Diamondbacks: 77-77San Francisco Giants: 76-78e-Colorado Rockies: 42-112
NL Wild Card:
x-Chicago Cubs: 88-66San Diego Padres: 83-71New York Mets: 80-74Cincinnati Reds: 78-76Arizona Diamondbacks: 77-77San Francisco Giants: 76-78St. Louis Cardinals: 75-79Miami Marlins: 74-80
y-clinched playoff berth
x-clinched division
e-eliminated from playoff contention
When do the MLB playoffs start?
The regular season ends Sunday, Sept. 28, and the Wild Card Series begins with four games on Tuesday, Sept. 30.