MLB playoff tiebreakers, explained: Postseason clinching scenarios for AL, NL teams in 2023 | Sporting News (2024)

Table of Contents

How do MLB tiebreakers work? Current MLB tiebreaking scenarios Head-to-head record Intradivision records Interdivision records Last half of intraleague games Last half of intraleague games plus one FAQs References

The 2018 MLB season came down to a pair of pivotal Game 163s: a matchup between the Brewers and Cubs for the NL Central and a clash between the Dodgers and Rockies for the NL West. The Brewers and Dodgers wound up winning to advance to the playoffs, though the two runners-up went to the playoffs as wild cards.

The days of a Game 163 are over. Major League Baseball will now turn to a tiebreaking system to determine which teams head to the postseason and which ones are headed home.

And that system could be put to the test in 2023. Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, the races for the AL West, final AL wild-card spot and the last two NL wild-card spots are both wide open, with several teams vying for the playoffs.

The tiebreaking system has many layers to it to ensure there is no way teams can remain tied by the end of the process.

What is that system, and which teams are currently in the driver's seat in a tiebreaking scenario? Here's what you need to know.

MORE: Updated MLB magic numbers for 2023 playoffs

How do MLB tiebreakers work?

In the event teams are tied after Game 162, MLB will turn to its tiebreakers to decide the teams headed to the playoffs.

There is a set order for handling the ties:

Head-to-head record
Intradivision record
Interdivision record
Last half of intraleague games
Last half of intraleague games plus one

The first tiebreaker is simple enough. If one team has a winning record against the other, it heads to the playoffs over the other. It gets more complicated if there are three teams tied for the same spot. In that case, the head-to-head record would look first to see if one team has winning records against the other two. If two teams have identical records against each other, but both have winning records over the third team, those two teams would advance to intradivision records and the next wave of tiebreakers. If they are all still tied at that point, it looks at overall winning percentage against the tied teams; if the tie still exists, it moves to intradivision records.

Next up is the record teams posted within their own division. This applies even if teams play in separate divisions, e.g. the Cubs would look at their NL Central record while the Marlins would look to their NL East record.

Current MLB tiebreaking scenarios

Some tiebreaking scenarios are already convincing enough that the remaining games of the season won't impact the remainder of the year.

Heading into the final weekend of play, updated with games ending as of Sept. 28, here's a look at how the tiebreakers are shaping up.

Head-to-head record

NL wild card

Team 1	Team 2	Record
Cubs	Diamondbacks	6-1, Diamondbacks
Cubs	Marlins	4-2, Marlins
Cubs	Reds	7-6, Reds
Diamondbacks	Marlins	4-2, Marlins
Diamondbacks	Reds	4-3, Reds
Marlins	Reds	3-3, Tied

AL West

Team 1	Team 2	Record
Astros	Mariners	9-4, Mariners
Astros	Rangers	9-4, Astros
Mariners	Rangers	8-2, Rangers*

*Rangers have clinched the record against Seattle prior to season-ending series against Mariners.

AL wild card

Team 1	Team 2	Record
Astros	Mariners	9-4, Mariners
Astros	Rangers	9-4, Astros
Astros	Blue Jays	4-3, Astros
Blue Jays	Mariners	3-3, Tied
Blue Jays	Rangers	6-1, Rangers
Mariners	Rangers	8-2, Rangers*

*Rangers have clinched the record against Seattle prior to season-ending series against Mariners.

Intradivision records

NL wild card

Team	Record
Cubs	29-20*
Diamondbacks	29-23
Marlins	26-25
Reds	20-29**

*Cubs end season with a three-game series vs. Brewers
**Reds end season with a three-game series vs. Cardinals

Interdivision records

NL wild card

Team	Record
Cubs	28-36
Diamondbacks	34-30
Marlins	30-31*
Reds	33-31

*Marlins end season with a three-game series with the Pirates

AL West

Team	Record
Astros	30-34
Mariners	33-31
Rangers	39-25

AL Wild card

Team	Record
Astros	30-34
Blue Jays	38-26
Mariners	33-31
Rangers	39-25

Last half of intraleague games

NL wild card

Team	Record
Cubs	32-26*
Diamondbacks	27-28*
Marlins	28-29**
Reds	27-32***

*Cubs end season with a three-game series with the Brewers
**Marlins end season with a three-game series with the Pirates
***Reds end season with a three-game series with the Cardinals

AL West

Team	Record
Astros	36-32
Mariners	39-22*
Rangers	32-24*

*Rangers and Mariners end season with a four-game series with each other

AL wild card

Team	Record
Astros	36-32
Blue Jays	29-25*
Mariners	39-22**
Rangers	32-24**

*Blue Jays end season with a three-game series vs. Rays
**Rangers and Mariners end season with a four-game series with each other

Last half of intraleague games plus one

NL Wild Card

Team	Record
Cubs	32-26*
Diamondbacks	27-28
Marlins	28-29**
Reds	27-32**

*Cubs end season with a three-game series with the Brewers
**Marlins end season with a three-game series with the Pirates
***Reds end season with a three-game series with the Cardinals

AL West

Team	Record
Astros	36-32
Mariners	40-22*
Rangers	31-25*

*Rangers and Mariners end season with a four-game series with each other

AL wild card

Team	Record
Astros	36-32
Blue Jays	29-25*
Mariners	40-22**
Rangers	39-25**

*Blue Jays end season with a three-game series vs. Rays
**Rangers and Mariners end season with a four-game series with each other

MLB playoff tiebreakers, explained: Postseason clinching scenarios for AL, NL teams in 2023 | Sporting News (2024)

FAQs

What happens if the Astros and Rangers tie? ›

Simple: tiebreaker scenarios. If the Astros and Rangers were to finish with identical records, Texas would get the short end of the stick, potentially eliminating them from the playoff picture.

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What is the tie breaker for the Astros Rangers game in 2023? ›

Texas and Houston ended the 2023 regular season with the same exact record of 90-72. The Astros were crowned champions of the American League West division by virtue of a tie-breaker since their record against the Rangers was 9-4 during the regular season.

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What are the tiebreakers for the MLB playoffs 2023? ›

There are no more Game 163s to determine playoff spots. Tiebreakers are determined mathematically, starting with head-to-head record, then intradivisional record (if needed), and finally interdivisional record (if needed).

Learn More ›

What is the tiebreaker for the National League playoffs? ›

Tiebreakers—Two Teams are Tied

If two teams are tied on the basis of points earned, the team's placement will be determined in accordance with the following sequential criteria: Winner of head-to-head competition. Winner of most games (all games)

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Who has the tiebreaker between Astros and Phillies? ›

The Astros and Phillies finished with identical 90-72 records, and the Phillies went to the Minute Maid Park and won two of three in April. They won the season series and thus have the tiebreaker, and get home-field advantage in the World Series.

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Who has the tiebreaker between Astros and Rangers? ›

In the AL West race, the Astros win the tiebreaker over the Rangers but lose it to the Mariners. On the wild-card front, they lose the tiebreaker to the Blue Jays, and their tiebreaker to the Rays will come down to intra-divisional record.

Who owns tiebreaker between Astros and Mariners? ›

The Mariners own the tiebreaker against the Astros (8-3+) and the Blue Jays (3-3, already clinched a superior intradivisional record).

Show Me More ›

Who is favored, Astros or Rangers? ›

The Astros are -125 moneyline favorites in this matchup against the Rangers (+106). Houston is the favorite on the run line (-1.5). A 9-run over/under is set in the game. Check out everything you need from a betting perspective on the Astros-Rangers game, regarding the run line, moneyline and total, plus expert picks.

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What are the odds the Astros win the ALCS? ›

The defending champion Astros enter the ALCS with the top odds to be the last club standing, boasting +180 title odds according to our partner, PointsBet. Houston is looking to become the first repeat champion since the New York Yankees won three straight titles from 1998-2000.

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How do Astros clinch the playoffs? ›

The Houston Astros have clinched a postseason berth thanks to Saturday's win over the Arizona Diamondbacks (HOU 1, ARI 0) and the Seattle Mariners' loss to the Texas Rangers (TEX 6, SEA 1). The Astros are assured at least a wild-card berth, though the AL West title remains in play.

What happens if there is a three-way tie in the AL West? ›

If 3 or 4 teams, tied for the same division's lead, both win on Day 1, then the A/B winner will host the C/D winner to determine the division title. The loser of this Day 2 game will earn a wild card spot.

What happens if a 3 way tie is in AL West? ›

AL West winner is crowned using the three-team tie scenario laid out above, so Mariners win the division. The Astros, Blue Jays, and Rangers go through the three-team tiebreaker to decide the second-card spot. The third wild-card spot is decided using head-to-head record of the remaining two teams.

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Who clinched the MLB playoffs? ›

Who's clinched?

Braves: Clinched NL East, home-field advantage throughout playoffs.
Dodgers: Clinched NL West.
Twins: Clinched AL Central.
Orioles: Clinched AL East, home-field advantage through ALCS.
Rays: Clinched AL wild-card spot.
Brewers: Clinched NL Central.
Phillies: Clinched NL wild-card spot.

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Oct 1, 2023

Keep Reading ›

What happens if a team ties in a playoff game? ›

Unlike regular season games, postseason games cannot end in a tie, so the overtime rules change slightly for the playoffs. If the score is still tied at the end of an overtime period — or if the second team's initial possession has not ended — the teams will play another overtime period.

Know More ›

Who goes to the playoffs if two teams have the same record? ›

Tiebreaker Process when Two Teams are Tied

If the records are the same, we compare their Points For. If tied in Points For, we compare their IntraDivisional Record. If for some reason the teams remain tied, a virtual coin flip will determine the seed.