Who’s In The Major League Baseball Playoffs?

The Major League Baseball playoffs are upon us! Who’s in and who’s out? Read on to find out.

American League

The American League playoffs are a best-of-seven tournament held after the conclusion of the Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season to determine the American League champion. The four American League teams with the best records play in the American League Division Series (ALDS), a best-of-five playoff.

Cleveland Indians

As of September 26th, the Cleveland Indians have clinched a spot in the American League playoffs.

The Indians are currently in first place in the American League Central division with a record of 91-71. They are 7 games ahead of the second place Minnesota Twins.

The Indians clinched their spot in the playoffs with a 6-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on September 26th.

The Indians will most likely face off against the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series. The Astros currently have the best record in baseball at 101-61.

Houston Astros

As the 2017 World Series champions, the Houston Astros represent the American League in the 2018 Major League Baseball playoffs. The Astros finished the regular season with a record of 103-59, good enough for first place in the AL West division. They will face off against the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS, with the winner advancing to play either the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees in the ALCS.

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. The teamHave clinched a spot in the 2019 MLB playoffs.

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of two major league clubs based in New York City, the other being the National League’s (NL) New York Mets. The Yankees began play in the 1901 season as the Baltimore Orioles (no relation to the modern Baltimore Orioles). In 1903, Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the franchise after it ceased operations and moved it to New York City, renaming the club the New York Highlanders. The Highlanders were officially renamed the Yankees in 1913.

The team is owned by Yankee Global Enterprises, an LLC controlled by the family of the late George Steinbrenner, who purchased the team in 1973. Brian Cashman is the team’s general manager, and Aaron Boone is the team’s field manager. The team’s home games were played at Yankee Stadium from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. In 1974 and 1975, the Yankees shared Shea Stadium with their then-city rivals, the Mets. In 2009, they moved into a new ballpark of their own, Yankee Stadium III; on August 15, 2016, Yankee Stadiumwrapper marked its inaugural regular season game—a victory over Toronto which set a record for attendance at an MLB game that stood until 2019—and hosted that year’s World Series as well as hosting three more since then: 2010 , 2017 , and 2019 .

The Yankees have won 27 World Series championships (including their first two as Baltimore), 40 American League pennants and 19 American League East division titles since they began play as an expansion eight-team league known as “the junior circuit” in 1901. These accomplishments make them one single-franchise record holders for each of those three categories respectively—the most championships among all North American professional sports franchises discretionary .[10] Between 1901–2018 (#118), 40% of all World Series have included a Yankee championship—more than any other MLB franchise discretionary .[10][11]

The Yankees’ rivalry with Boston Red Sox is one of baseball’s most well-known rivalries discretionary .[12][13] From 1903–2018 (#116), Boston and New York have finished 1–2 in standings 27 times.[12]

The term “Bronx Bombers” was coined by sportswriter Clive Goodman [14]in 1947[15][16][17] to describe a very successful period for what became known as “Murder Incorporated”, an apt nickname for a lineup featuring soft-spoken hitters such as Joe DiMaggio , Yogi Berra , Hank Bauer , Gil McDougald , Elston Howard , Billy Martin , Gene Woodling , Phil Rizzuto , Tony Kubek , Bobby Richardson —and during this time Mantle himself.[18] These “Bombers” were led by sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris , who hit 56 homers apiece in 1961.[19][20]

National League

As the Major League Baseball regular season comes to an end, we now know which teams will be playing in the National League playoffs. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the top seed, followed by the Atlanta Braves, the Chicago Cubs, and the San Diego Padres.

Los Angeles Dodgers

As the 2019 Major League Baseball regular season comes to a close, October baseball is on the horizon and that means the playoffs are nearly here.

Ten teams will take part in this year’s postseason, with the winner of each league (the American and National) meeting in the World Series.

In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs. The Dodgers will take on either the Milwaukee Brewers or Washington Nationals in the NLDS.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the Nationals played in RFK Stadium while their permanent stadium was being built. In 2008, they moved in to Nationals Park, located on South Capitol Street in the Southeast quadrant of D.C., near the Anacostia River. The ballpark is also home to Cirque du Soleil’s Zarkana and WTOP Radio’s studios and offices. The team’s name was chosen as a nod to the previous history of professional baseball in the nation’s capital, including the American Association (AA) team now known as the Minnesota Twins (then known as the Washington Senators) and the National League’s now-defunct Washington Senators franchise. Dating back to 1891, “Nationals” appeared on players’ uniforms for several years before being replaced with “Senators”, which remained until 1960 when D.C.’s baseball franchise became known as simply “Washington”. A new nickname was needed for the 2010 season, and Minor League Baseball team owner Bob Carpenter selected “Nationals” from among 25 candidates after holding a name-the-team contest that attracted more than 33,000 entries and ultimately produced more than 1,600 different nicknames for consideration by Major League Baseball and team officials during an 18-month review process; other finalists included Express, Griffs, Senators, Stallions; among those not making the Top 10 were Federals—which had been previously used by two now-defunct Washington area MLB franchises—and Presidents—a play on both U.S. history and then-President Barack Obama).

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division, where they are the defending World Series champions. The team plays its home games at Wrigley Field, located on the city’s North Side. The Cubs are one of two major league teams in Chicago; the other, the Chicago White Sox, is a member of the American League (AL) Central division.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks, often shortened as the D-backs, are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home games at Chase Field, formerly known as Bank One Ballpark. Throughout their history, the Diamondbacks have won one World Series championship – becoming the fastest expansion team in Major League history to do so in their fourth season – five NL West titles and one NL Wild Card.