Dodgers first crew to clinch playoff bid, plus unique postseason bracket

The 2020 MLB playoffs are not up to 2 weeks away, even supposing it appears be pleased easiest the day gone by that the peculiar season kicked off. The compressed 60-game time desk is swiftly coming to a cease, and the MLB standings are tight heading to the accept as true with, with wild-card positioning, postseason seeding and the remainder of the playoff represent at stake.

As has been the case with so powerful this season, the playoffs could occupy a singular seek, with an expanded layout that entails 16 groups for the major time in MLB historic previous.

This could be the bid to communicate over with each day during the pause of the peculiar season for updated appears to be on the functionality playoff field, recaps of the finest video games, prognosis of the finest storylines and previews of the serious video games ahead.

Soar to …

Most up to the moment playoff field | The immense memoir | Playoff debates | Key video games ahead

Key links: MLB standings | Predictions | Inventory watch | 2020 playoff time desk

Who’s in?

Los Angeles Dodgers

The overwhelming preseason current used to be the major crew to proper a bid in the postseason tournament, clinching a berth with Wednesday’s receive over the Padres. L.A. took two of three from San Diego, which sits in 2nd bid in the NL West.

What’s next? The Dodgers, who retain the most efficient file in baseball, are making an strive to search out his or her eighth consecutive NL West championship and the head seed in the National League. Obviously, the immense prize for the Dodgers would be their first World Series title since 1988. This could be L.A.’s 14th playoff appearance since they final acquired it all.

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Who could be next?

The White Sox can clinch a playoff bid Thursday if they beat the Twins or if the Mariners lose to the Giants.

If the season ended this day …

The matchups: That is what the first round of the expanded playoffs would seek be pleased, in step with the standings coming into play Thursday, Sept. 17.

Most intelligent-of-three series, increased seed is home crew

AMERICAN LEAGUE


No. 1 White Sox vs. No. 8 Indians


No. 2 Rays vs. No. 7 Blue Jays


No. 3 Athletics vs. No. 6 Astros


No. 4 Twins vs. No. 5 Yankees

NATIONAL LEAGUE


No. 1 Dodgers vs. No. 8 Giants


No. 2 Cubs vs. No. 7 Phillies


No. 3 Braves vs. No. 6 Reds


No. 4 Padres vs. No. 5 Marlins

Magic numbers to clinch playoff bid

NL: Padres 3, Cubs 5, Braves 6, Marlins 10, Phillies 11, Giants 11, Reds 13

AL: White Sox 1, Rays 3, A’s 3, Twins 3, Yankees 6, Blue Jays 8, Indians 8, Astros 10

About final night …

play

Luis Castillo fans 10 over seven scoreless innings as the Reds down the Pirates 1-0.

The Reds occupy been among the most confounding groups of the season. A elaborate hold to be a prime postseason contender, the Reds’ offense has been dreadful, despite the incontrovertible truth that the peripheral numbers point out they’ve hit into some depraved luck. (They’re 15th in laborious-hit price, nonetheless dreary final in BABIP and overall batting common, and 26th in runs scored.) In a roundabout plot, the most efficient numbers that in actuality topic are those on the scoreboard, and in step with them, Cincinnati has been a disappointment.

Even so, at any time after we’re ready to jot down off the Reds for true, they accumulate an outing be pleased the one they got from Luis Castillo on Wednesday, or a sparkler from Trevor Bauer, and so they again seem be pleased a doable playoff crew that could reason some bother, notably in a easiest-of-three series.

Castillo blanked the Pirates for seven innings in a 1-0 victory (concept, who wants offense?) that ran Cincinnati’s a success stagger to 5 video games and pulled the Reds one share point sooner than the Cardinals and into 2nd bid in the NL Central, a bid that could accumulate them into the postseason. Sure, four of the 5 wins came against the dreadful Buccos. But not among the groups the Reds are contending with for a playoff berth are world-beaters. The Phillies slipped below .500 after blowing a four-urge lead in a 5-4 loss to the Mets. The Giants, whereas a very good memoir, can’t be concept a pair of postseason lock. The Cardinals are a game below .500 with their doubleheader-filled time desk taking a toll on their pitching workers. The Brewers? Meh.

Meanwhile, Bauer is a legit Cy Younger candidate and Castillo is never in actuality all that a long way in the relieve of (1.23 ERA, 24 Ks in 22 IP over his previous three starts). If Sonny Grey recovers from a sore relieve and pitches the plot in which he did early this season — and the bats utilize even a slight turn for the upper — there’s level-headed time for the Reds to accomplish some noise.

Also of stamp: The Dodgers claimed the major seat on the postseason feast, assuring they’re going to be enjoying in October for the eighth straight three hundred and sixty five days. The White Sox neglected of project to clinch a playoff bid, shedding 5-1 to the Twins, nonetheless are true one receive a long way from their first berth since 2008. Minnesota feeble its 2019 formulation for success, touching White Sox ace Lucas Giolito for a pair of home runs by Eddie Rosario and Byron Buxton. Miguel Sano added his 12th long ball as insurance protection in the eighth. … Talking of long balls, the Yankees bashed their design to a bid that had never been reached by the Bronx Bombers earlier than. Contemporary York hit six home runs in relieve-to-relieve video games for the major time in club historic previous — then did that one better in the seventh inning on Kyle Higashioka‘s third home urge of the night. Higashioka, who became the major No. 9 hitter with three homers in a game in Yankees historic previous, had never hit more than three homers in a season coming into Wednesday. Contemporary York’s 13-2 receive over the Blue Jays used to be its seventh straight over Toronto and Baltimore, giving the Yankees a 1½-game lead over the Jays for 2nd bid to restore lisp in the AL East. … The Astros, who were shut out 1-0 by the Rangers’ Kyle Gibson, are 9-15 over their previous 24 video games (and 24-25 on the season) nonetheless level-headed retain a two-game lead over the Mariners for the 2nd playoff bid in the AL West. — Steve Richards

Pennant flee debate: Which surprising contender is the finest surprise, and which is the most efficient bet to accumulate previous the major round?

Joon Lee: The emergence of the Orioles as playoff contenders positively surprised me most, as I expected them to accept as true with in final bid in the AL East. Between Anthony Santander and Pedro Severino, the crew has had some sharp spots this season through continuity from final three hundred and sixty five days. But among the many surprise playoff contenders, I query the San Francisco Giants to occupy the strongest chance to accomplish it to the 2nd round. This crew has had its allotment of surprises this three hundred and sixty five days, between Mike Yastrzemski and Donovan Solano emerging as key offensive cogs, nonetheless the moderately young Giants occupy a bevy of veterans with postseason trip, along side Johnny Cueto, Brandon Crawford and Evan Longoria, who could abet San Francisco pull off a essential-round upset in what has already been a chaotic season.

David Schoenfield: I would possibly tear with the Orioles as the finest surprise. Coming off a 108-loss season that featured among the worst pitching staffs of all time and a file need of home runs allowed, Baltimore customarily did nothing in the offseason to complement the roster. Certainly, the Orioles’ finest transfer used to be trading their easiest field player, Jonathan Villar, to dump his wage. However the O’s occupy accomplished legitimate baseball and in a design hung cease to the eighth playoff seed. The Giants are the most efficient bet to advance, on the opposite hand, thanks to a extremely true offense. There is a dinky little bit of little bit of 2010 on this crew. That three hundred and sixty five days, Aubrey Huff and Andres Torres were the 2 easiest gamers (by WAR). This three hundred and sixty five days, it is Mike Yastrzemski and Donovan Solano.

Bradford Doolittle: The Giants seem be pleased the most efficient bet to accumulate into the playoffs, which makes them the most more seemingly to receive two video games in a essential-round easiest-of-three. If the Marlins can sneak in, on the opposite hand, they seem be pleased the most efficient bet to pull off an upset (if there could be the kind of ingredient in a easiest-of-three). That is notably correct if they put not match up against one other crew from the NL East, as they’d be ready to throw out some dynamic young palms the opponent won’t occupy seen powerful, if at all. The Orioles price as the finest surprise. I in actuality concept the Tigers would be a dinky bit worse, nonetheless I additionally concept Detroit’s Central-easiest time desk would be considerably weaker, boosting them over the O’s in the standings. Baltimore can also very smartly be in the midst of of being knocked down by its slate true now, nonetheless the Orioles accomplished a tall job of inserting in so a long way.

Dan Mullen: The Orioles and Tigers aren’t going to take the Yankees, so we can rule them out, leaving a necessity between the Giants and the Marlins. For this reason I’m taking Miami: Even three hundred and sixty five days or not, if the Giants beat the Rockies for that final bid (San Francisco and Colorado occupy four video games left against every other), they’re a No. 8 seed and a essential-round date with the Dodgers. I know this is a instant series and the rest can happen, nonetheless L.A. is the most efficient crew in baseball by a honest tall margin and beating the Dodgers in any series shouldn’t be seemingly.

Miami, on the opposite hand, is at expose the No. 5 seed and could accept as true with anywhere between there and the No. 7 bid, in step with how the Marlins, Phillies and Cardinals pause the season. In a extremely easiest-in-2020 ingredient, ending No. 5 could be the worst-case danger here, as it would point out enjoying the Padres, whereas appealing into as the No. 6 or No. 7 could region up a winnable chance at a Braves crew with major initiating pitching concerns.

Key video games ahead

Dodgers-Rockies, Thursday (8: 40 p.m. ET): Los Angeles is closing in on the division crown and Colorado is making an strive to withhold its playoff hopes alive as the NL West foes meet at Coors Subject.

Blue Jays-Phillies, Friday (6: 05 p.m. ET): Hyun-Jin Ryu and Vince Velasquez are scheduled to sq. off as two East groups on the true facet of the playoff line meet in Philadelphia.

A’s-Giants, Sunday (4 p.m. ET): Will the Giants’ lead in a first price flee for the NL’s final playoff bid final through a unparalleled three-game series with their Bay Screech opponents?

Twins-Cubs, Sunday (7 p.m. ET on ESPN): It be a Sunday night ace showdown as Yu Darvish tries to abet his Cy Younger case against Jose Berrios and the Twins.