MLB playoff picture: Tracking the 16 teams in line for a spot in the postseason
The condensed 2020 Major League Baseball season is in its final weeks, but there's still plenty to sort out before the 16-team playoff brackets are formed.
Before the season started in July, MLB announced an expanded postseason format. The top two teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, and the two teams with the second-best records in each league make it as wild cards.
Seeds 1-3 go to the division winners, in order of record. Seeds 4-6 go to the three teams who finished second in their division, in order of record and seeds 7 and 8 will go to the final two teams. All ties will be resolved mathematically, without tiebreaker games.
POSTSEASON BUBBLE: Neutral sites chosen for LCS, World Series
EXPANDED PLAYOFFS: Postseason expanded from 10 teams to 16 teams
The Wild Card round is a best-of-three series with all three games at the top seed's home ballpark. The League Divisional Series is a best-of-five and the League Championship Series and World Series are best-of-sevens.
Here is a look at the matchups if the season ended today (through Sept. 11):
American League matchups
No. 1 A's vs. No. 8 Yankees
No. 2 Rays vs. No. 7 Indians
No. 3 White Sox vs. No. 6 Astros
No. 4 Twins vs. No. 5 Blue Jays
National League matchups
No. 1 Dodgers vs. No. 8 Giants
No. 2 Braves vs. No. 7 Marlins
No. 3 Cubs vs. No. 6 Cardinals
No. 4 Padres vs. No. 5 Phillies