The final week of the 2026 MLB regular season has arrived and there is still so much to be decided. The three National League divisions have been clinched (Braves, Brewers, Dodgers) and three American League postseason spots have been claimed (Rays, Red Sox, Yankees), which means half the postseason field remains up for grabs, plus seeding must be settled. Also, Yordan Alvarez has a shot at the AL Triple Crown (three points up in batting average, one back in homers, six back in RBI) and Pete Crow-Armstrong is two stolen bases away from baseball's seventh 40-40 season.
Alvarez and Crow-Armstrong will look to make individual history while also pushing their teams into the postseason. There's a lot on the line this week. With that in mind, here's a look at the 17 teams still mathematically alive in the postseason races, and what they need to do this weekend to punch their ticket to October.
The postseason begins one week from Tuesday with the Wild Card Series. The AL East title is a formality at this point. The Rays will play the Yankees four times in three days beginning Tuesday, so, yes, the Yankees still have a chance, but one win in those four games clinches the division title for Tampa.
Once the Rays clinch the AL East, they will also lock up the AL's No. 1 seed and a Wild Card Series bye. They've already clinched a better record than the AL Central or AL West winner. The Rays could catch the Brewers for baseball's best record and thus home field advantage throughout the postseason, though it's a bit of a long shot.
They're two back, but Milwaukee holds the tiebreaker. The Yankees must sweep the Rays in those four games this week to have any chance at the AL East title. One loss in those four games gives the Rays the division.
Realistically, the Yankees will be the top wild-card team. New York is already guaranteed to be no worse than the second wild-card team, and they'll clinch the top wild-card spot with one more win or one more Red Sox loss. There's not much on the line for the Red Sox.
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