MLB Final Week Preview: Playoff Races, Stars, and Storylines

The 2024 Major League Baseball postseason race looked like it might be a quiet march to October. Now, as September unfolds, things have taken a wild turn.

Teams in both the American and National Leagues are locked in battles for the last playoff spots. The closing weeks of the regular season feel more electric than they have in years.

The playoff format’s set, the schedule isn’t changing, and fans are staring down high-stakes matchups. There are surprise contenders everywhere, and honestly, the World Series could get pretty wild.

How the MLB Playoff Format Works

MLB’s current postseason setup lets 12 teams qualify—six from each league. Division winners get seeded one through three.

The next three best records in each league fill the wild card spots, seeded four through six. It’s a structure that rewards winning but keeps hope alive longer for more teams.

The Advantage of a First-Round Bye

The top two seeds in each league get a big break: they skip straight to the Division Series. No Wild Card round stress, no best-of-three chaos that could end everything in a weekend.

Wild Card Round Matchups

The Wild Card games start on September 30. In each league, the No. 6 seed goes up against the No. 3 seed.

The No. 5 seed faces the No. 4 seed. Higher seeds get home-field advantage for all three possible games—so yeah, those regular season wins matter.

From Wild Card to World Series

Wild Card winners move on to the best-of-five Division Series. After that, it’s the best-of-seven League Championship Series (LCS).

The two LCS winners meet in the World Series, which runs through November 1. Games will air on ESPN, FOX, FS1, and TBS.

National League Picture

The NL playoff race is fierce, but some things are starting to settle. Four teams have already punched their tickets:

• Milwaukee Brewers
• Philadelphia Phillies
• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Chicago Cubs

Down to the Wire

The San Diego Padres are close to clinching the fifth spot in the National League. If they do, only one spot will be left, making the last week even more intense.

American League Drama

The American League is still a bit of a mess, playoff-wise. Here’s where things stand right now:

• Toronto Blue Jays – Clinched
• New York Yankees – Near clinching
• Seattle Mariners – Near clinching

Final Week Fireworks

The rest of the AL is scrapping for a ticket to the postseason. With only Toronto locked in, there’s still plenty of scoreboard-watching and maybe even some tiebreaker craziness ahead.

World Series Favorites

Oddsmakers have the Phillies as the top pick to win it all in October. The rest of the favorites look like this:

• Philadelphia Phillies
• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Seattle Mariners
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Toronto Blue Jays
• New York Yankees

Why the Phillies Lead the Pack

The Phillies bring a balanced lineup, a deep rotation, and some real postseason grit. That’s why they’re at the top, but let’s be real—baseball’s weird, and any of these teams could get hot and go all the way.

What to Watch for in the Coming Weeks

As the postseason gets closer, keep an eye on those last wild card spots. Injuries, hot streaks, and late drama could flip everything upside down.

The stakes are sky-high, and I’d bet we’re in for some unforgettable moments before it’s all over.

October Awaits

This year’s playoff race proves that even in a long 162-game season, the final weeks can bring wild excitement. From September 30 onward, it’s win-or-go-home.

Every pitch is going to matter. Whether your team’s a favorite or just sneaking in, the road to the World Series looks like a ride you don’t want to miss.

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Here is the source article for this story: What to watch during the final week of MLB’s regular season