MLB Playoff Picture 2024: Phillies Clinch Postseason; Updated Bracket, Standings

Adam WellsSeptember 21, 2024

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

It’s going to be a red October in the City of Brotherly Love again after the Philadelphia Phillies earned their third straight MLB playoff berth.

The Phillies clinched their spot in the postseason with Friday’s 12-2 win over the New York Mets.

As the MLB playoff picture continues to come into focus, here are the updated matchups in both leagues based on the standings through games played on Friday, Sept. 20.

Projected National League Playoff Matchups

First-round bye: No. 1 Philadelphia Phillies, No. 2 Los Angeles DodgersWild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 New York Mets; No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 Arizona Diamondbacks
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 Minnesota Twins; No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals
Current Standings

AL East

New York Yankees (90-64)*Baltimore Orioles (86-68, 4 GB)Boston Red Sox (76-78, 14 GB)Tampa Bay Rays (76-78, 14 GB)Toronto Blue Jays (73-81, 17 GB)AL Central

Cleveland Guardians (90-65)*Kansas City Royals (82-72, 7.5 GB)Minnesota Twins (81-73, 8.5 GB)Detroit Tigers (80-74, 9.5 GB)Chicago White Sox (36-118, 53.5 GB)AL West

Houston Astros (84-70)Seattle Mariners (79-75, 5 GB)Texas Rangers (73-81, 11 GB)Oakland Athletics (67-87, 17 GB)Los Angeles Angels (62-92, 22 GB)AL Wild Card

Baltimore Orioles (86-68, +5 Games)Kansas City Royals (82-72, +1 Game)Minnesota Twins (81-73)Detroit Tigers (80-74, 1 GB)Seattle Mariners (79-75, 2 GB)Boston Red Sox (76-78, 5 GB)Tampa Bay Rays (76-78, 5 GB)NL East

Philadelphia Phillies (92-62)*New York Mets (85-69, 7 GB)Atlanta Braves (83-71, 9 GB)Washington Nationals (68-86, 24 GB)Miami Marlins (57-97, 35 GB)NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers (88-66)** Chicago Cubs (79-75, 9 GB)St. Louis Cardinals (77-77, 11 GB)Cincinnati Reds, (75-80, 13.5 GB)Pittsburgh Pirates (72-82, 16 GB)NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers (92-62)*San Diego Padres (88-66, 4 GB)Arizona Diamondbacks (86-68, 6 GB)San Francisco Giants (75-79, 17 GB)Colorado Rockies (59-95, 33 GB)NL Wild Card

San Diego Padres (88-66, +2.5 Games)Arizona Diamondbacks (86-68, + 1 Game)New York Mets (85-69)Atlanta Braves (83-71, 2 GB)Chicago Cubs (79-75, 6 GB)St. Louis Cardinals (77-77, 8 GB)*Denotes clinched playoff spot

**Denotes clinched division

In a season that hasn’t had dominant regular-season teams like in years past, the Phillies have been the most complete club in MLB since the beginning of the year.

Starting pitching has been a key ingredient for the Phillies in their previous two playoff appearances, and that’s shaping up to be a strength again. Their starters rank third in MLB in FanGraphs’ wins above replacement (15.6).

Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez are the best starting quartet in MLB. Wheeler has a 2.42 ERA in 11 playoff appearances. Nola has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his nine postseason starts.

On top of the dominance of the starting staff, David Dombrowski’s career-long attempt to put together a good bullpen appears to have finally paid off. Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering and Jeff Hoffman all have ERAs between 1.71 and 1.99 while averaging more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings.

If there is a concern for the Phillies going into October, it’s the depth in their lineup. Bryce Harper is still hitting well overall, but he has just three homers since Aug. 10. He could be figuring things out right in time for the playoffs because all three have come in the past six days.

Even with the lack of homers, Harper had a .316/.393/.504 slash line from Aug. 10 to Sept. 19. His ability to take over in a playoff series has been on display before and could be a difference-maker in the NL race.

Alec Bohm’s power output took a hit before he landed on the injured list on Sept. 6 with a hand strain, though he did return to the lineup on Sunday. Until Friday, he slugged .403 with three homers in the second half after posting a .482 slugging percentage and 11 homers before the All-Star break. However, Bohm broke out on Friday, going 4-for-5 with four RBI, two runs and a home run.

Leading into Friday, Trea Turner’s OPS dropped nearly 300 points from before the All-Star break (.941) to after the break (.676). Harper, Bohm and Turner are three of Philadelphia’s top four offensive players when they are right.

Fortunately, the Phillies have Kyle Schwarber at the top of the order. He has already set an MLB record for leadoff homers in a single season.

FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOXKYLE SCHWARBER HAS DONE IT! 💥

Schwarber now has 14 leadoff home runs this season, a new MLB record! 👏

(via @Phillies)pic.twitter.com/F32ivrWyUW

The ability for Schwarber to immediately give the Phillies a lead and let their pitching staff go to work is one of the biggest reasons they are a favorite to win the World Series.

If Turner and/or Bohm can get back on track in October, good luck to any opposing team trying to keep this offense down. The Phillies proved two years ago they can go on a run at any point.

This team is better overall than the 2022 squad that lost to the Houston Astros in the Fall Classic. They will get a chance to bring a World Series back to Philadelphia for the first time since 2008.