Needing a win to further separate themselves from the surging Cleveland Guardians, the Chicago White Sox fumbled a two-run lead, eventually losing, 7-6, on a walk-off two-run double.

Now, what opened on Tuesday as a 1 1/2 game lead has shrunk back down to just a half-game. While the White Sox do own the tiebreaker over Cleveland, a loss in Wednesday’s series finale would see Chicago relinquish control of the division, a precarious position with 11 games remaining in the season.

On the opposite side of the Central, the Milwaukee Brewers claimed their fourth consecutive division title Tuesday night. NL Cy Young Award frontrunner Jacob Misiorowski kickstarted the 5-1 win, then Milwaukee watched as the Chicago Cubs lost to the Atlanta Braves, thus clinching the division.

Next up for Milwaukee: MLB’s best record, which would ensure the Brewers have home-field advantage throughout October. Three wins over their final 11 games will tie last year’s franchise-best mark of 97 wins, while four will reset the record.

If the playoffs started today, these would be the matchups:

National LeagueNL West

A 4-0 shutout of the Cincinnati Reds put the Los Angeles Dodgers that much closer to winning a fifth straight divisional crown. That win, coupled with a San Diego Padres loss to the Colorado Rockies, has set Los Angeles up for a potential champagne celebration at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday.

The Dodgers can claim the division with a win in Wednesday’s finale or a Padres loss, whichever comes first.

NL Central

Just as they did last Friday, becoming one of the first teams to clinch a postseason berth, the Brewers became the first club to clinch a division. Now, only five divisions remain up for grabs in MLB’s postseason race.

Chipper Jones on the Braves’ postseason outlook

Jayson Stark

NL East

A late rally by the Braves and a loss by the Phillies in Washington has put the division that much further out of reach. Up 5 1/2 games on Philadelphia, Atlanta is dangerously close to reclaiming the NL East crown it last won in 2023 with a magic number down to five. That number represents any combination of Braves wins or Phillies losses.

American LeagueAL West

Wins by both the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros ensured that the AL West remained as it was entering play on Tuesday: the Astros with a slim, one-game lead over the Rangers.

Houston owns the tiebreaker, having won the season series 9-4.

AL Central

In a division that seemed like a foregone conclusion two weeks ago, things have become increasingly tighter by the day. At this point, neither team can afford a loss — the Guardians do not own the tiebreaker, and given the way the AL wild-card race is shaking out, winning the Central might be either club’s only path to October.

AL East

A walk-off home run by Junior Caminero not only reignited the AL MVP debate, it also helped his Tampa Bay Rays keep pace with the never-say-die New York Yankees.

New York remains 3 1/2 games back in the division, with the two clubs on a collision course for next week, when they’ll play four games in three days. That series will likely determine the division, provided all things stay equal.

Wild cardsAmerican League

Even with the loss by the Boston Red Sox to the Rangers, things remain as they were in the AL wild-card race. New York up top, Boston behind them and Cleveland in third. Texas remains in the hunt (one game back), while two consecutive losses have put the Toronto Blue Jays’ odds of making the postseason further away (two games back).

The Rangers and Blue Jays will meet over the weekend at Globe Life Field, where, at least, part of this race should become clearer.

AL wild-card standings (Sept. 16)

National League

Losses by all three NL wild-card teams provided the Diamondbacks with a rare opportunity to gain ground on everyone in front of them. However, Arizona left 15 runners on base, going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position in a 4-2 extra-innings loss to the Marlins. The Diamondbacks remain 2 1/2 games out of the picture while the three other clubs (Cubs, Phillies, Padres) remain in place.

NL wild-card standings (Sept. 16)

What to watch

Dodgers at Reds: Blake Snell takes the mound at 6:40 p.m. ET, looking to help lead his Dodgers to a divisional title. A loss will not preclude what has now become inevitable, as the Dodgers can also clinch with a San Diego loss.

White Sox at Guardians: Rookie of the Year candidate Parker Messick gets the start at 1:10 p.m. ET, with his Guardians looking to take control of the division. Anthony Kay starts opposite Messick, with Chicago hoping for a better turn of luck for the lefty — he has an 8.66 ERA over his last four starts.

Red Sox at Rangers: Marquee offseason acquisition MacKenzie Gore gets the nod for Texas, with the Rangers looking to keep pace in the AL West and wild-card. First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m. ET.

Royals at Astros: Chasing a triple crown and an AL West title, Yordan Alvarez and Houston wrap their series at 8:10 p.m. ET.

Padres at Rockies: Before playing host to the Marlins, the Padres get one last crack at the league-worst Rockies, beginning at 8:40 p.m. ET.

Marlins at Diamondbacks: The Snakes are still alive, for now at least, with the 9:40 p.m. ET start time closing Wednesday’s slate of games. Merrill Kelly, who has looked better over his last three starts (2.08 ERA), gets the nod for an Arizona team that can ill afford another loss before welcoming the Yankees to town.