The AL playoff race is coming down to the wire, from full-on collapses to late-season pushes.
While the Seattle Mariners have already clinched the AL West, and the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays have locked in playoff spots, the rest of the field remains fairly up in the air. As the Cleveland Guardians vie for the AL Central, two spots are available among them, the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros.
One of these squads will find itself on the outside looking in this postseason. Which will it be?
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Here's the latest look at the AL wild-card race.
MORE: Breaking down the full MLB playoff picture
AL wild-card playoff picture
Standings updated through Sept. 25.
Currently, the Astros are the only AL team still alive for a playoff spot, but outside of the wild-card picture. Houston trails the Tigers by one game.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are on the verge of clinching their postseason spot. One of the Yankees and Blue Jays will likely win the AL East, with the other falling to the wild card.
- WC1: Yankees*, 91-68 (.570), +5.0
- WC2: Red Sox, 87-72 (.551), +1.0
- WC3: Tigers, 85-73 (.538)
- —
- Astros, 85-74 (.532), 1.0 GB
* Indicates clinched postseason berth
Red Sox magic number
To clinch a postseason berth, the Red Sox have a magic number of one. They need either one win or Astros loss to clinch.
Tigers magic number
The Tigers' magic number to clinch a postseason berth is two. They need some combination of three in wins and/or Astros losses to clinch.
Astros magic number
The Astros do not currently have a magic number, as they are outside of the playoff picture. Their elimination number behind the Tigers is three.
MORE: Tracking the MLB home run race, from Cal Raleigh to Shohei Ohtani
AL playoff bracket
Updated through Sept. 25.
Here's a look at the current full AL playoff bracket.
| Seed | Team | Division | Record | Win pct. |
| 1 | Blue Jays* | East | 91-68 | .572 |
| 2 | Mariners** | West | 90-69 | .566 |
| 3 | Guardians | Central | 86-73 | .541 |
| 4 (WC) | Yankees* | East | 91-68 | .572 |
| 5 (WC) | Red Sox | East | 87-72 | .547 |
| 6 (WC) | Tigers | Central | 86-73 | .541 |
* Indicates clinched postseason berth
** Indicates clinched division title
Are the Red Sox in the playoffs?
The Red Sox have not officially locked in their spot in the playoffs. However, they currently hold the WC2 spot in the American League.
Are the Tigers in the playoffs?
The Tigers have not officially locked in their spot in the playoffs. However, they currently hold the WC3 spot in the American League.
Are the Astros in the playoffs?
The Astros have not locked in a spot in the postseason, and right now, they would be on the outside looking-in for the AL wild-card picture.