Playoff tracker: Who can clinch next, current bracket and games to watch

As the final month of the 2024 MLB regular season begins, a few teams are already looking to October.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies have opened comfortable leads in the NL Central and NL East, respectively, while the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians all seem like locks for postseason spots despite being in races at the top of their own divisions.

Beyond division races, there are many storylines to watch as the regular season comes to an end and October begins.

Where do the current playoff matchups stand? What games should you be paying attention to today? Who will be the first team to clinch a postseason berth? And what does the playoff schedule look like? We have everything you need to know as the regular season hits the homestretch.

Key links: Full MLB standings | Wild-card standings | Predictions

The Dodgers, Phillies, Brewers, Orioles, Yankees and Guardians all have at least a 99% chance of making the postseason early in the final month of the MLB season.

American League

Wild-card round: (6) Royals at (3) Astros, (5) Twins at (4) Yankees

ALDS: Royals/Astros vs. (2) Guardians, Twins/Yankees vs. (1) Orioles

National League

Wild-card round: (6) Braves at (3) Brewers, (5) D-backs at (4) Padres

NLDS: Braves/Brewers vs. (2) Phillies, D-backs/Padres vs. (1) Dodgers

The Yankees and Orioles enter the homestretch battling for both the AL's No. 1 seed and the AL East crown with the Red Sox still holding onto some hope in the AL wild-card race. After spending much of the season comfortably ahead in the AL Central, the Guardians are trying to outlast the Royals and Twins for the division crown while the Astros attempt to separate themselves from the Mariners in a two-team AL West race.

And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here's what their chances are for every round:

Five teams have separated themselves atop the NL standings with the Atlanta Braves trying to hold off the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs for the final playoff spot. The Phillies and Brewers are seemingly cruising to division titles, but there is plenty of intrigue in the NL West as the Dodgers attempt to fend off the D-backs and Padres for the division crown.

And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here's what their chances are for every round:

Looking for something to watch today? Here's the baseball game with the biggest playoff implications:

Wild-card series
Best of three, all games at better seed's stadium

Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 1
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 2
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 3*

Division series
Best of five

ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 7
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 9
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 10*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 12*

NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 11*

League championship series
Best of seven

ALCS
Game 1: Monday, Oct. 14
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 15
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 18
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 19*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 21*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 22*

NLCS
Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 13
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 21*

World Series
Best of seven

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 25
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 26
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 28
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 29
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 30*
Game 6: Friday, Nov. 1*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 2*

Note: If both LCS end by Oct. 19 -- meaning neither series lasts longer than five games -- the World Series will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 22

* If necessary