MLB Playoff Image 2024: Guardians Clinch AL Central; Up to date Bracket, Standings

Having already secured a spot within the postseason, the Cleveland Guardians can now rejoice successful the 2024 American League Central title.

The Guardians clinched the division on Saturday with the Kansas Metropolis Royals’ loss to the San Francisco Giants. This marks the fifth time since 2016 that Cleveland has gained the AL Central.

Listed below are the up to date playoff standings and potential matchups by means of Saturday’s sport as of seven:30 p.m. ET.

Projected American League Playoff Matchups

• First-round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland Guardians
• Wild Card Sequence: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Minnesota Twins, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas Metropolis Royals

Projected Nationwide League Playoff Matchups

• First-round bye: No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies
• Wild Card Sequence: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 New York Mets, No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 Arizona Diamondbacks

1. New York Yankees (90-64)*
2. Baltimore Orioles (86-68, 4 GB)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (77-78, 13.5 GB)
4. Boston Pink Sox (76-78, 14 GB)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (73-82, 17.5 GB)

1. Cleveland Guardians (90-65)**
2. Kansas Metropolis Royals (82-72, 7.5 GB)
3. Minnesota Twins (81-73, 8.5 GB)
4. Detroit Tigers (80-74, 9.5 GB)
5. Chicago White Sox (36-118, 53.5 GB)

1. Houston Astros (84-70)
2. Seattle Mariners (79-75, 5 GB)
3. Texas Rangers (73-81, 11 GB)
4. Oakland Athletics (67-87, 17 GB)
5. Los Angeles Angels (62-92, 22 GB)

1. Baltimore Orioles (86-69, +4.5 Video games)
2. Kansas Metropolis Royals (82-73, +0.5 Recreation)
3. Minnesota Twins (81-73)
4. Detroit Tigers (81-74, 0.5 GB)
5. Seattle Mariners (79-75, 2 GB)
6. Tampa Bay Rays (77-78, 4.5 GB)
7. Boston Pink Sox (76-78, 5 GB)

1. Philadelphia Phillies (92-63)*
2. New York Mets (86-69, 6 GB)
3. Atlanta Braves (84-71, 8 GB)
4. Washington Nationals (69-86, 23 GB)
5. Miami Marlins (57-98, 35 GB)

1. Milwaukee Brewers (88-66)** 
2. Chicago Cubs (79-76, 9.5 GB)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (77-77, 11 GB)
4. Cincinnati Reds, (76-80, 13 GB)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (72-83, 16.5 GB)

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (92-62)*
2. San Diego Padres (88-66, 4 GB)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (86-68, 6 GB)
4. San Francisco Giants (76-79, 16.5 GB)
5. Colorado Rockies (59-95, 33 GB)

1. San Diego Padres (88-66, +2.5 Video games)
2. Arizona Diamondbacks (86-68, +0.5 Recreation)
3. New York Mets (86-69)
4. Atlanta Braves (84-71, 2 GB)
5. Chicago Cubs (79-76, 7 GB)
6. St. Louis Cardinals (77-77, 8.5 GB)

*Denotes clinched playoff spot

**Denotes clinched division

The Guardians clinched a playoff berth on Thursday with a 3-2 extra-inning win over the Minnesota Twins. First-year supervisor Stephen Vogt led the Guardians again to the highest of the AL Central after a disappointing 76-86 document in 2023.

Since MLB adopted the six-division format in 1994, Cleveland has gained extra AL Central titles than another membership (12). That is the membership’s fifth division title and sixth playoff look previously 9 seasons.

Though the Guardians have the division wrapped up, there may be nonetheless work to do for the crew within the playoff race. They’re nonetheless in a battle with the New York Yankees for the very best document within the AL and home-field benefit all through the American League playoffs.

The Yankees personal the tiebreaker by advantage of successful 4 of six head-to-head conferences within the common season, so Cleveland would want to complete with a greater document to earn the highest seed.

Cleveland hasn’t completed a season with the very best document within the AL since 2017 (102-60). The crew has only one playoff sequence win since reaching the 2016 World Sequence when it swept the Tampa Bay Rays within the 2022 AL Wild Card sequence.

No matter what occurs with the No. 1 general spot, the Guardians are in place with a magic variety of three to safe a first-round bye and keep away from the Wild Card sequence. They’re 5.5 video games forward of the AL West-leading Houston Astros with six video games remaining.

The Guardians and Astros play a three-game sequence at Progressive Subject from Sept. 27-29 to wrap up the common season. Cleveland might take plenty of the drama out of that sequence if it clinches a top-two seed earlier than it begins.