See the moment an MLB superstar showed up to play backyard wiffle ball
Kansas City Royals catcher, Salvador Perez, stops to join a group of kids in a backyard game of wiffle ball in Kansas City, Kansas.
USA Today
(Updated through games played Sept. 20)
Major League Baseball‘s 2024 season is in its penultimate week with playoff spots very much up for grabs.
Things are heating up in the wild-card races in both leagues, with a handful of teams separated by just a few games. In the National League, the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets and Atlanta Braves are fighting for the second and third wild-card berths, entering Saturday with Atlanta on the outside looking in.
“We’re definitely competing to clinch, and it’s going to come down to one play, one pitch. And that’s what the playoffs is about,” Mets infielder Jose Iglesias said Monday.
The playoffs begin on Tuesday, Oct. 1 with the best-of-three wild card series – two in each league.
Here’s a full look at the MLB postseason picture:
AL wild card standings
Top three reach playoffs
Baltimore Orioles (86-68): +5 gamesKansas City Royals (82-72): +1 gameMinnesota Twins (81-73)Detroit Tigers (80-74) 1 GBSeattle Mariners (79-75): 2 GBBoston Red Sox (76-78): 5 GBNL wild card standings
Top three reach playoffs
San Diego Padres (88-66): +3 gamesArizona Diamondbacks (86-68) +1 gameNew York Mets (85-69)Atlanta Braves (83-71): 2 GBAL EastNew York Yankees (90-64) – clinched postseason spot Sept. 18Baltimore Orioles (86-68) – 4 GBAL CentralCleveland Guardians (90-65) – clinched postseason spot Sept. 19Kansas City Royals (82-72) – 7.5 GBMinnesota Twins (81-73) – 8.5 GBDetroit Tigers (80-74) – 9.5 GBAL WestHouston Astros (84-70)Seattle Mariners (79-75) – 5 GBNL EastPhiladelphia Phillies (92-62) – clinched postseason spot Sept. 20New York Mets (85-69) – 7 GBAtlanta Braves (83-71) – 9 GBNL CentralMilwaukee Brewers (88-66) – clinched division Sept. 18NL WestLos Angeles Dodgers (92-62) – clinched postseason spot Sept. 19San Diego Padres (88-66) – 4 GBArizona Diamondbacks (86-68) – 6 GB
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