MLB playoff picture 2024: Astros win AL West; updated bracket, standings

The Houston Astros remain indispensable in the American League after clinching their eighth consecutive postseason berth.

Houston punched its ticket with a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. In addition to clinching a playoff berth, the Astros also won the AL West for the fourth consecutive season.

Here are the updated playoff standings and probable matchups for Tuesday’s games (as of 10:40 p.m. Eastern time).

Predicted American League Playoff Matchups

• First-round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland Guardians
• Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Detroit Tigers, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals

Predicted National League Playoff Matchups

• First Round Bye: No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies
• Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 New York Mets, No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 Arizona Diamondbacks

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

1. Cleveland Guardians (91-67)**
2. Kansas City Royals (83-74, 7.5GB)
3. Detroit Tigers (83-74, 7.5GB)
4. Minnesota Twins (81-76, 9.5GB)
5. Chicago White Sox (36-120, 54 GB)

1. Houston Astros (86-72)**
2. Seattle Mariners (81-77, 5GB)
3. Texas Rangers (74-82, 11GB)
4. Oakland Athletics (67–89, 18GB)
5. Los Angeles Angels (63-93, 22GB)

1. Baltimore Orioles (+4 games)*
2. Detroit Tigers (-)
3. Kansas City Royals (-)
4. Minnesota Twins (2GB)
5. Seattle Mariners (2.5 GB)
6. Boston Red Sox (3.5 GB)
7. Tampa Bay Rays (5GB)

1. Philadelphia Phillies (93-65)**
2. New York Mets (87-70, 5.5GB)
3. Atlanta Braves (86-71, 6.5GB)
4. Washington Nationals (69-88, 23.5GB)
5. Miami Marlins (58-99, 34.5 GB)

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

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-63)*
2. San Diego Padres (90-66, 3GB)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (87-70, 6.5 points)
4. San Francisco Giants (78-79, 15.5GB)
5. Colorado Rockies (60-96, 33GB)

1. San Diego Padres (+3 games)
2. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)
3. New York Mets (-)
4. Atlanta Braves (1 GB)

* Denotes occupancy of playoff spot

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This season has been more of a struggle for the Astros since their run of success began in 2017. They looked in trouble for most of the first half with a 33-40 record and were 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. On July 20, they swept the Seattle Mariners and haven’t looked back.,

Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker and Jose Altuve have carried most of the load in the lineup. They have combined for 78 homers. Tucker returned on September 6, after missing three months with a broken shin bone, and it was perfect timing for their playoff run.

Even though the rotation doesn’t have the same depth as in years past, the top end remains a problem for opposing teams in playoff series. Framber Valdez has an ERA of 2.91. Ronel Blanco, a 30-year-old player who made a total of 24 MLB appearances before 2024, has an ERA of 2.88 and a WHIP of 1.10.

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

The Astros have the formula in place to make another great postseason run. They have reached the ALCS each of the past seven years, making four World Series appearances and winning two titles.