2021 MLB Playoff picture: how many spots are still to be decided

With five teams having already secured their spots in the MLB postseason, four more teams will take it down to the line in this last week for the remainder.

Svetozar Pavlović

Svetozar PavlovićceletozasvetaUpdate: Sep 28th, 2021 23:19 EDT

2021 MLB Playoff picture: how many spots are still to be decided

October is knocking on our door, along with it comes the long-awaited Major League Baseball postseason. After almost 160 games are played, it is time to see who has the best playing score and earned the right to fight for the Commissioner’s Trophy in the final of the World Series.

MLB news:

Yankees move ahead as the AL Wild Card chase enters final furlongThe regular season is closing in, and the division champions are not yet decidedMLB round-up: Yankees flip Wild Card race as Brewers toast titleLA Angels’ Ohtani throws 10 strike outs days after his season almost endedMLB playoffs: team-by-team analysis

With just one week of playing left, half a dozen of teams are still in contention to secure their spot. Whether it’s a division crown and a straight ride to the division series or one of two wild-card spots to face single-game elimination play. However, not all of the teams in contention will pass on the chance to have home-field advantage.

The wild-card race is close apart and will come down to the final week – or even the last weekend – of the regular season, which ends Sunday, Oct. 3. Or we could have some bonus baseball on Oct. 4 if there are tiebreakers to be played heading into the postseason.

Which teams are already in the playoffs

The Cardinals are close to clinching the second NL wild-card spot in the National League as their 16-game winning streak has their prediction number down to one. Officially we have our first five postseason teams, as the White Sox, Giants, Dodgers, Brewers, and Rays form half of the bracket. The Houston Astros will probably be the next division winner to join them. Houston’s qualification number sits at two victories to clinch the American League West.

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