MLB Playoffs 2016 – Postseason Bracket, Magic Numbers, and Wild Card Standings: When Will Red Sox Clinch AL East? Mets, Giants Fight for NL Slot

By Jose Serrano First Posted: Sep 28, 2016 09:21 AM EDT

Update - September 28, 2016 - 9:00 a.m.: The latest 2016 MLB Playoff Picture/Bracket is provided below.

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Cleveland clinched the AL Central crown Monday night, leaving one division winner undecided with six regular season games remaining.

Boston, Toronto, and Baltimore played musical chairs throughout the summer to remain atop the AL East. Each club endured hot and cold streaks, but the Red Sox seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. The Orioles led by a game on August 1. A month later, the Blue Jays lead Boston by two games and Baltimore by four.

John Farrell's club has now opened up a six-game lead over second-place Toronto, all but assuring Fenway Park would not host a one-game playoff. They could wrap up their eight division title with a win in the Bronx Tuesday night.

Or they can fall back on a Blue Jays home loss. Baltimore and Toronto are so far back in Boston's rear view mirror that home-field advantage throughout the postseason is within reach. Texas' second-straight loss on Monday meant the Red Sox carry the league's best winning percentage. If that lasts, or if they tie with Cleveland, Boston hosts the ALDS and ALCS. A season-ending tie with the Rangers takes home-field to Arlington since Texas has a better division record. Either way, the Red Sox are hours away from a return trip to October baseball.

A Three-Team NL Wild Card Battle

Mathematically, half-a-game separates New York and San Francisco from hosting a one-game playoff. A better gauge is each team's injury report. The crop of young arms that led the Mets to a World Series appearance last season won't factor in this time around: they're all injured. Zach Wheeler is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Jacob DeGrom and Matt Harvey suffered season-ending injuries. Left-hander Steven Matz may have too, depending on what doctors say about a shoulder impingement. The lone bright spot in New York's starting rotation - aside from ageless wonder Bartolo Colon - is Noah Syndergaard, and he skipped a weekend start with strep throat. At this point, emergency starters may need emergency starters of their own. Mets pitchers have allowed 6.4 runs per game over the last eight games, dating back to a three-game set with Atlanta. Only 22-year-old righty Robert Gsellman completed seven inning in that span. Yet New York remains the NL Wild Card leader.

While St. Louis has stumbled to their 75-loss season since 2010, the Giants have done everything possible to hand the Cardinals and Mets a playoff slot. If the playoffs started today, St. Louis would be the odd man out for first time since Albert Pujols still called Busch Stadium home.

San Francisco entered the All-Star break with baseball's best record. They have gone 25-41 ever since, gifting Los Angeles a fourth-straight NL West title as they themselves struggle to find where their season went wrong.

The answer may just be hard luck. San Francisco is 28-27 in one-run games with all but eight of those wins coming before the Midsummer Classic. Relievers carry a franchise-record 30 blown saves, but the abundance of one-run games will take a toll on any bullpen.