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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

Major League Baseball‘s playoff race is going down to the wire with multiple postseason spots still up for grabs as the 2025 season approaches the final weekend.

The Cleveland Guardians have run down the Tigers atop the American League Central, a shocking comeback that may go down as one of the biggest collapses in baseball history for Detroit. The rivals face off in Cleveland this week while scoreboard-watching the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox in the wild-card race.

In the National League, the New York Mets fell out of a playoff spot for the first time since the beginning of April and have nearly completed an impressive meltdown of their own, now fighting with the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL wild-card spot.

Here’s the latest look at the playoff race:

Standings entering play Thursday, Sept. 25MLB playoff bracket if season ended todayAmerican LeagueByes: Blue Jays, MarinersAL wild card seriesTigers at GuardiansRed Sox at YankeesNational LeagueByes: Brewers, PhilliesNL wild card seriesMets at DodgersPadres at CubsAL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

New York Yankees (90-68): +5 games // clinched postseason berthBoston Red Sox (87-71) +2 gamesDetroit Tigers (85-73)Houston Astros (84-74): 1 GBNL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

Chicago Cubs (89-69): +8 games // clinched postseason berthSan Diego Padres (87-72): +5.5 games // clinched postseason berthNew York Mets (81–77)Cincinnati Reds (80-78): 1 GBArizona Diamondbacks (80-78): 1 GBMiami Marlins (77-81): 4 GBAL EastToronto Blue Jays (90-68) – clinched postseason berthNew York Yankees (90-68) – clinched postseason berthBoston Red Sox (87-71): 3 GBAL CentralCleveland Guardians (86-72) – holds head-to-head tiebreaker vs TigersDetroit Tigers (85-73): 1 GBAL WestSeattle Mariners (89-69) – clinched AL West titleHouston Astros (84-74)NL EastPhiladelphia Phillies (93-65) – clinched NL East titleNew York Mets (81-77)NL CentralMilwaukee Brewers (96-63) – clinched NL Central titleChicago Cubs (89-69)NL WestLos Angeles Dodgers (89-69) – clinched postseason berthSan Diego Padres (87-72): 2.5 GB – clinched postseason berth

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