Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras being greeted in the dugout by teammates after hitting a three-run home run vs the Cincinnati Reds.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras being greeted in the dugout by teammates after hitting a three-run home run vs the Cincinnati Reds.
It’s officially football season. For the first time this year, there was a full weekend slate of college football and the National Football League that overshadowed Major League Baseball action. But for baseball fans everywhere, the regular season is at its best point. With the regular season wrapping up just two weeks from today, the postseason race has ratcheted up for teams across the league. Teams are starting to clinch postseason spots and battle for home-field advantage while the pressure on wild card contenders continues to mount.
Dodgers Remain on Brewers’ Heels in Postseason Race for Top NL Seed
The 93-57 Milwaukee Brewers lost ground last week on their hold of the National League’s top seed. While the 88-62 Atlanta Braves now sit five games back of the Brewers following a 3-4 week vs the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies, the 90-59 Los Angeles Dodgers sit just 2.5 games back. Thanks to the Dodgers taking advantage of a nine-game homestand vs below-.500 teams, going 7-2. LA did finish this week, however, dropping a series on the road to the Miami Marlins, losing the two games since two-way star Shohei Ohtani was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to September 8 with right biceps inflammation.
While Ohtani’s injury and how it was handled currently overshadow the organization as October nears, they are still in prime position for the one seed with two weeks remaining. The Brewers became the first NL team to clinch a postseason berth on Friday with a resounding 20-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
It marks the fourth straight year the club has made the postseason as they now look to clinch the top overall seed in the NL for the second straight season and reach the World Series for the first time since 1982. When they lost in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers did win the season series vs the Dodgers and hold the tiebreaker if it comes to that.
“This is step one. Let’s get after it. Immediately.”#WinOurWay pic.twitter.com/gKMDQOtbs3
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 12, 2026
On top of clinching a postseason berth, Milwaukee took care of business this week, going 5-1 on their six-game homestand, sweeping the rival Cubs in their final regular-season series matchup vs Chicago before taking two of three vs the Reds to end the week. Starting Tuesday, the Brewers begin their final road trip of the season, playing the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, and Phillies.
The Dodgers have a lighter stretch, facing the Reds in Cincinnati for four games starting Monday before returning home for three games vs the rival 62-88 San Francisco Giants. Can the Dodgers catch the Brewers without the services of Ohtani? Only time will tell as this race between NL powerhouses rages on.
Rays in Control for Top AL Seed, West and Central Remain Wide Open
The Brewers’ recent 5-2 stretch vs the Cubs wrapped up the NL Central, while the Dodgers have been on cruise control atop the West for a couple of months now. Meanwhile, the Braves’ recent 4-3 stretch vs the Phillies gives them a firm five-game lead over Philadelphia for the East entering Monday.
But the AL remains much more interesting. The 90-59 Rays have been in control of the American League’s top seed for much of the season. They had an excellent week, winning two of three on the road in Atlanta before sweeping the AL West-leading Houston Astros at home. Like the Brewers, they clinched a postseason berth on Friday in a 3-1 win over the Astros when star third baseman Junior Caminero crushed a walk-off two-run home run 417-feet to left-center. Tampa’s final homestand of the season begins Tuesday with three vs the Athletics before three vs the division rival Boston Red Sox.
The vibes don’t get more major.
A look back on Junior’s walk-off 40th HR to clinch the postseason, presented by @CoronaUSA. pic.twitter.com/NovSX2SAAu
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 12, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays teammates celebrating after clinching a crucial three-game sweep vs the Houston Astros in the MLB postseason race.
Sep 13, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. (25), second baseman Richie Palacios (1) and teammates celebrate after they beat the Houston Astros at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Taking care of business this week for the Rays could provide more of a cushion over the 86-63 New York Yankees. The Yankees currently are four games back of the Rays following a 5-1 week over the hapless Colorado Rockies and New York Mets.
The Yankees’ final road trip of the season is on deck as they will face the Minnesota Twins and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rays are almost there when it comes to clinching the AL’s number one overall seed and the East. But if they slip up this week, the opportunity is there for the Yankees to take advantage and make next week’s four-game series in the Bronx must-watch TV.
White Sox, Astros Fail to Create Separation
The fact that the White Sox are even in the position they are in with two weeks remaining following three consecutive 100+ loss seasons is a testament to the special turnaround season they have had. With that being said, it doesn’t make the stress any easier on the South Side faithful as the White Sox look to clinch the Central for the first time since 2021. The 76-74 Guardians sit just a 0.5 game back entering Monday.
Creating a crucial three-game series in Cleveland beginning Monday. The White Sox have lost five of six entering Monday, while the Guardians traded wins and losses last week, going 3-3. The White Sox currently lead the season series 5-4.
Chicago White Sox center fielder Brenton Doyle running next to the Chicago White Sox mascot carrying the White Sox flag after winning game vs Cleveland Guardians.
Aug 9, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox outfielder Brenton Doyle (7) runs after the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The Guardians have a soft landing following the White Sox series as they host the 61-89 A’s for three games. While the White Sox host the 70-79 Detroit Tigers for four games, who would love nothing more than to take some solace from a disappointing season by spoiling the White Sox’s quest for the division. Meanwhile, it’s a Texas two-step to determine the West, with the Seattle Mariners barely hanging on at five games behind the Astros entering Monday.
The Astros used up their remaining margin for error, going 2-4 vs the Phillies and Rays last week. On tap beginning Tuesday is their final homestand of the year vs the Kansas City Royals and Braves. The 74-74 Rangers began last week with a disappointing series loss in Seattle but salvaged the week with an impressive series win in the desert vs the NL Wild Card contender Diamondbacks. But it doesn’t get any easier for Texas as they begin a nine-game homestand with six vs the Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays this week. The Rangers and Astros will not face each other again in the regular season. The Astros hold the tiebreaker, handily winning the season series, going 9-4.
The AL has made sure to make up for the lack of drama in the division races on the NL side as the season winds down. But whoever does not come away winning the West or Central does not have a soft landing to rely on when it comes to the Wild Card race.
The Crowded AL Wild Card Race
If the season ended today, the Red Sox would be heading to the Bronx in a best-of-three series. Barring the Yankees catching the Rays, that will likely remain that way, as the Yankees currently hold a 4.5-game lead over the Red Sox for the top wild card spot with no matchups between the two clubs remaining. But the race for the final AL Wild Card spot remains as tight as ever. The Guardians currently hold that position but are followed closely by the Blue Jays (one GB) and Rangers (two GB). The 72-78 Orioles (four GB) remain alive, going 3-3 vs. the Guardians and Blue Jays.
The Guardians and Rangers can at least still win their divisions, while the Blue Jays are relying on the final wild card spot or nothing. Toronto will face the Tigers for three games at home before heading to Arlington for a crucial three-game series vs. the Rangers. The series involving teams in postseason contention are starting to increase, as the margin for error grows ever smaller. But as mentioned earlier, the AL, in a season of mediocrity for the league, is carrying a lot of the late-season drama as separation finally occurred in the two-team race in the NL for the final NL Wild-Card spot.
Cubs and Phillies Tied for Top NL Wild Card Spot, Padres Finally Create Separation Over Diamondbacks
After losing the season series to their respective division-leader rivals in the last couple of weeks, the Cubs and Phillies are deadlocked at 83-67 for the top NL Wild Card spot. The Cubs hold the tiebreaker thanks to their 6-1 record over the Phillies way back in April. See, those “meaningless” April series do matter in the end!
But the Phillies have the opportunity to make those early-season results moot with a favorable stretch this week vs the Nationals and Mets for six games. The Cubs have a much more difficult stretch, facing the Braves for three at Wrigley to begin the week before they travel to Cincinnati for three over the weekend. Both teams are also a bad stretch away from trading places with the 81-68 Padres, who enter Monday just 1.5 GB of both clubs.
San Diego Padres teammates celebrating following a win vs the San Francisco Giants.
Sep 13, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres infielders Manny Machado (13), Jake Cronenworth (9) and catcher Ethan Salas (8) celebrate with pitcher Yuki Matsui (1) after defeating the the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
While getting either of the top two spots would be ideal instead of starting the postseason facing the Braves in Atlanta, the Padres at least made their current position a little more secure. After being deadlocked for a couple of weeks, the Padres finally separated from their NL West rival. The Padres took full advantage of a light stretch in their schedule and are currently on a seven-game winning streak after sweeping the Nationals and Giants this week. Next up is four at home vs the 55-94 Rockies, who have lost seven straight and are 1-8 vs San Diego this season.
The Padres’ recent stretch has put them in a very favorable position with two weeks remaining. Though they have been playing the role of the “cardiac kids” in their recent winning streak, with six of their seven wins being within two runs or less. Oh, how the Diamondbacks would love to be in the AL right now. Their 79-71 record would currently have them safely in the final wild card spot. But sadly, they are not. They are in the NL and in trouble. Dropping two of three at home to the Rangers in a crucial series for both clubs to end last week could end up costing Arizona their postseason spot.
Additionally, they unfortunately do not have the Rockies on deck but instead continue their nine-game homestand with series vs the Marlins and Yankees.
The Last Word
In just one week, the Diamondbacks have gone from holding a slight lead over San Diego to being on the outside looking in with serious work to do. That’s what makes this time of year so much fun or maddening for baseball fans. Truly every game matters, and the margin for error is only getting smaller. Buckle up, baseball fans. With plenty still to be decided and a week full of intriguing series between teams in postseason contention, things are about to turn up another notch.
Main Photo Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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