MLB Playoff Picture 2024: Astros Clinch AL West; Updated Bracket, Standings

Adam WellsSeptember 25, 2024

Tim Warner/Getty Images

The Houston Astros remain inevitable in the American League after clinching their eighth straight postseason berth.

Houston punched its ticket with Tuesday’s 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners. In addition to clinching a playoff berth, the Astros also clinched the AL West for the fourth straight season.

FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOXINEVITABLE! 🫰

The @astros have won the AL West for the 4th straight season! 💫 pic.twitter.com/geXN74j3AM

Here are the updated playoff standings and potential matchups through Tuesday’s games (as of 10:40 p.m. ET).

Projected American League Playoff Matchups

First-round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland GuardiansWild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Detroit Tigers, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals
Projected National League Playoff Matchups

First-round bye: No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 2 Philadelphia PhilliesWild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 New York Mets, No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 Arizona Diamondbacks
Current Standings

AL East

New York Yankees (92-65)*Baltimore Orioles (87-70, 5 GB)*Boston Red Sox (80-78, 12.5 GB)Tampa Bay Rays (78-79-78, 14 GB)Toronto Blue Jays (73-85, 19.5 GB)AL Central

Cleveland Guardians (91-67)**Kansas City Royals (83-74, 7.5 GB)Detroit Tigers (83-74, 7.5 GB)Minnesota Twins (81-76, 9.5 GB)Chicago White Sox (36-120, 54 GB)AL West

Houston Astros (86-72)**Seattle Mariners (81-77, 5 GB)Texas Rangers (74-82, 11 GB)Oakland Athletics (67-89, 18 GB)Los Angeles Angels (63-93, 22 GB)AL Wild Card

Baltimore Orioles (+4 Games)*Detroit Tigers (-)Kansas City Royals (-)Minnesota Twins (2 GB)Seattle Mariners (2.5 GB)Boston Red Sox (3.5 GB)Tampa Bay Rays (5 GB)NL East

Philadelphia Phillies (93-65)**New York Mets (87-70, 5.5 GB)Atlanta Braves (86-71, 6.5 GB)Washington Nationals (69-88, 23.5 GB)Miami Marlins (58-99, 34.5 GB)NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers (90-67)** Chicago Cubs (81-77, 9.5 GB)St. Louis Cardinals (79-77, 10.5 GB)Cincinnati Reds, (76-82, 14.5 GB)Pittsburgh Pirates (73-84, 17 GB)NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers (93-63)*San Diego Padres (90-66, 3 GB)Arizona Diamondbacks (87-70, 6.5 GB)San Francisco Giants (78-79, 15.5 GB)Colorado Rockies (60-96, 33 GB)NL Wild Card

San Diego Padres (+3 Games)Arizona Diamondbacks (-)New York Mets (-)Atlanta Braves (1 GB)*Denotes clinched playoff spot

**Denotes clinched division

This season was more of a struggle than the Astros have had since this run of success began in 2017. They appeared to be in trouble for most of the first half with a 33-40 record and facing a 10-game deficit in the AL West on June 18.

Since then, the Astros have looked like arguably the best team in the AL. They surpassed the Seattle Mariners atop the division on July 20 and haven’t looked back.

Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker and Jose Altuve have carried most of the load for the lineup. They have combined for 78 homers. Tucker’s return on Sept. 6 after missing three months due to a fractured bone in his shin came at a perfect time for their playoff push.

Even though the rotation doesn’t have the depth it has in previous years, the top remains a problem for opposing teams in a playoff series. Framber Valdez has a 2.91 ERA. Ronel Blanco, a 30-year-old who had a total of 24 MLB appearances prior to 2024, has a 2.88 ERA and 1.10 WHIP.

Hunter Brown, who posted a 5.09 ERA in 29 starts last year, has a 3.49 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 170 innings.

The formula is in place for the Astros to make another deep postseason run. They have made it to the ALCS in each of the past seven years, with four World Series appearances and two titles during that span.