MLB Playoff Picture 2024: Guardians Clinch AL Central; Updated Bracket, Standings

Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Having already secured a spot in the postseason, the Cleveland Guardians can now celebrate winning the 2024 American League Central title.

The Guardians clinched the division on Saturday with the Kansas City Royals' loss to the San Francisco Giants. This marks the fifth time since 2016 that Cleveland has won the AL Central.

Here are the updated playoff standings and potential matchups through Saturday's game as of 7:30 p.m. ET.

Projected 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 Minnesota Twins, 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 Phillies

Wild 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 (90-64)*

Baltimore Orioles (86-68, 4 GB)

Tampa Bay Rays (77-78, 13.5 GB)

Boston Red Sox (76-78, 14 GB)

Toronto Blue Jays (73-82, 17.5 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 (86-69, +4.5 Games)

Kansas City Royals (82-73, +0.5 Game)

Minnesota Twins (81-73)

Detroit Tigers (81-74, 0.5 GB)

Seattle Mariners (79-75, 2 GB)

Tampa Bay Rays (77-78, 4.5 GB)

Boston Red Sox (76-78, 5 GB)

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies (92-63)*

New York Mets (86-69, 6 GB)

Atlanta Braves (84-71, 8 GB)

Washington Nationals (69-86, 23 GB)

Miami Marlins (57-98, 35 GB)

NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers (88-66)**

Chicago Cubs (79-76, 9.5 GB)

St. Louis Cardinals (77-77, 11 GB)

Cincinnati Reds, (76-80, 13 GB)

Pittsburgh Pirates (72-83, 16.5 GB)

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers (92-62)*

San Diego Padres (88-66, 4 GB)

Arizona Diamondbacks (86-68, 6 GB)

San Francisco Giants (76-79, 16.5 GB)

Colorado Rockies (59-95, 33 GB)

NL Wild Card

San Diego Padres (88-66, +2.5 Games)

Arizona Diamondbacks (86-68, +0.5 Game)

New York Mets (86-69)

Atlanta Braves (84-71, 2 GB)

Chicago Cubs (79-76, 7 GB)

St. Louis Cardinals (77-77, 8.5 GB)

The Guardians clinched a playoff berth on Thursday with a 3-2 extra-inning win over the Minnesota Twins. First-year manager Stephen Vogt led the Guardians back to the top of the AL Central after a disappointing 76-86 record in 2023.

Since MLB adopted the six-division format in 1994, Cleveland has won more AL Central titles than any other club (12). This is the club's fifth division title and sixth playoff appearance in the past nine seasons.

Even though the Guardians have the division wrapped up, there is still work to do for the team in the playoff race. They are still in a battle with the New York Yankees for the best record in the AL and home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs.

The Yankees own the tiebreaker by virtue of winning four of six head-to-head meetings in the regular season, so Cleveland would need to finish with a better record to earn the top seed.

Cleveland hasn't finished a season with the best record in the AL since 2017 (102-60). The team has just one playoff series win since reaching the 2016 World Series when it swept the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2022 AL Wild Card series.

Regardless of what happens with the No. 1 overall spot, the Guardians are in a good position with a magic number of three to secure a first-round bye and avoid the Wild Card series. They are 5.5 games ahead of the AL West-leading Houston Astros with six games remaining.

The Guardians and Astros play a three-game series at Progressive Field from Sept. 27-29 to wrap up the regular season. Cleveland could take a lot of the drama out of that series if it clinches a top-two seed before it begins.