NEW YORK — There was a lot of drama across the country on the final Tuesday of the regular season.
The Padres clinched a playoff spot and got to within two games of the NL West-leading Dodgers with a 4-2 victory at Dodger Stadium that ended with a triple play while Shohei Ohtani was on deck.
The Dodgers put two on with nobody out in the ninth for Miguel Rojas, who hit a grounder to third base. Manny Machado fielded the ball, stepped on third for the first out, then threw to second baseman Jake Cronenworth, who threw to first to complete the game-ending, ‘round-the-horn triple play.
“What a way to do it,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “You’ve got to be kidding me right there. What a play by Manny.”
In New York, the Orioles sealed a postseason berth and prevented the Yankees from clinching the AL East with a 5-3 victory at Yankee Stadium.
“We’re setting ourselves up for a playoff run right now and I think our guys are just really excited to get going,” Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman said.
In the great state of Texas, the Astros made it four AL Central titles in a row with a 4-3 win over the second-place Mariners.
“What we’ve been through, that we are popping champagne, that’s incredible,” Astros first-year manager Joe Espada said. “I never lost hope. I knew we were going to find ourselves in a position to come and compete and win the West.”
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Still to be determined in the American League, besides the Yankees’ magic number still one to win their division, five clubs are in the chase for two wild cards. The Royals and Tigers are in the driver’s seat, the Twins are collapsing and both the Mariners and Red Sox are living on a wing and a prayer.
Also, the Yankees have a 1.5-game lead on the Guardians plus the tiebreaker in their chase for best record in the league, which would bring a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage for their Division Series and the ALCS, if they advance.
The red-hot Tigers and Royals won on Tuesday to stay tied for the second and third AL wild cards, and both now are two games ahead of the Twins, whose 4-1 loss at home to the Marlins was their third in a row and left them with an 11-23 record since Aug. 18.
The Tigers’ 2-1 home win over the Rays was their third in a row and 21st in their last 29 games. The Royals snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 1-0, 10-inning win at Washington.
In the National League, three teams are separated by one game for two wild-card spots. The Braves gained ground by beating the Mets 5-1 in Atlanta on Tuesday night, but they’re still on the outside looking in. Arizona’s 11-0 home loss to the Giants gave the Mets a half-game ahead in the second wild-card position and left them just half-game ahead of the Braves.
Also in the NL, the Padres would love to steal the NL West title from the Dodgers, and they’ll be in a good position if they sweep the series to force a tie heading into the final weekend because San Diego holds the tiebreaker.
The Dodgers have a half-game lead for best record in the NL over the Phillies, who hold the tiebreaker.
Here’s a look at magic numbers plus tiebreakers and remaining schedules for the contenders through Tuesday, Sept. 23, along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Sept. 25:
AL EAST
NEW YORK YANKEES (92-65)
Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Orioles by 5 games.
Tiebreakers: Yankees trail season series with Orioles 7-4; Yankees won season series with Guardians 4-2.
Magic number to clinch AL East: 1
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched on Sept. 17.
Yankees schedule:
Sept. 25: vs. Orioles, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: vs. Orioles, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Pirates, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Pirates, 1:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Pirates, 3:05 p.m., EST
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (87-70)
Standings: Second in AL East. Trail first-place Yankees by 5 games. First in AL wild-card standings. Lead Royals and Tigers by 4 games for first and second AL wild card. Lead Twins by 4.5 games for third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Orioles lead season series with Yankees 7-4; Orioles lost season with Tigers 4-2; Orioles lead season series with Twins 3-0.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 24.
Orioles schedule:
Sept. 25: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Twins, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Twins, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Twins, 3:10 p.m., EST
BOSTON RED SOX (80-78)
Standings: Third in AL East. Sixth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Royals and Tigers by 3.5 games for second and third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Red Sox and Twins tied season series 3-3; Red Sox won season series with Royals 4-2; Red Sox lost season series with Tigers 4-3.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 3
Red Sox schedule:
Sept. 25: at Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Rays, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Rays, 4:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Rays, 3:05 p.m., EST
AL CENTRAL
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (91-67)
Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Royals and Tigers by 7.5 games.
Tiebreakers: Guardians lost season series with Yankees 4-2.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: Clinched Sept. 21.
Guardians schedule:
Sept. 25: vs. Reds, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Astros, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Astros, 6:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Astros, 3:10 p.m., EST
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (83-74)
Standings: Tied with Tigers for second in AL Central. Tied with Tigers for second and third AL wild card. Lead Twins by 2 games for third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Royals lost season series with Twins 7-6; Royals and Mariners season series tied 3-3; Royals lost season series with Red Sox 4-2; Royals won season series with Tigers 7-6.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 4
Royals schedule:
Sept. 25: at Nationals, 6:45 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Nationals, 1:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Braves, 3:20 p.m., EST
DETROIT TIGERS (83-74)
Standings: Tied with Royals for second in AL Central. Tied with Royals for second and third AL wild card. Lead Twins by 2 games third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Tigers lost season series with Twins 7-6; Tigers lost series with Royals 7-6; Tigers won season series with Mariners 5-1; Tigers won season series with Red Sox 4-3.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 4
Tigers schedule:
Sept. 25: vs. Rays, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: vs. Rays, 1:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. White Sox, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. White Sox, 1:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. White Sox, 3:10 p.m., EST
MINNESOTA TWINS (81-76)
Standings: Fourth in AL Central. Fourth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Royals and Tigers by 1 game for second and third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Twins won season series with Royals 7-6; Twins won season series with Tigers 7-6; Twins won season series with Mariners 5-2; Twins and Red Sox tied season series 3-3.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 4
Twins schedule:
Sept. 25: vs. Marlins, 7:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: vs. Marlins, 7:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Orioles, 7:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Orioles, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Orioles, 3:10 p.m., EST
AL WEST
HOUSTON ASTROS (86-72)
Standings: First in AL West. Lead second-place Mariners by 5 games.
Magic number to clinch AL West: Clinched Sept. 24.
Astros schedule:
Sept. 25: vs. Mariners, 2:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Guardians, 7:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Guardians, 6:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Guardians, 3:10 p.m., EST
SEATTLE MARINERS (81-77)
Standings: Second in AL West. Fifth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Royals and Tigers by 2.5 games for second and third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Mariners lost season series with Twins 5-2; Mariners and Royals season series tied 3-3; Mariners lost season series with Tigers 5-1.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 3
Mariners schedule:
Sept. 25: at Astros, 2:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Athletics, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Athletics, 7:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Athletics, 3:10 p.m., EST
NL EAST
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (93-65)
Standings: First in NL East. Lead second place Mets by 5.5 games.
Tiebreakers: Phillies won season series with Dodgers 5-1; Phillies won season series with Brewers 4-2.
Magic number to clinch NL East: Clinched Sept. 23.
Phillies schedule:
Sept. 25: vs. Cubs, 6:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Nationals, 6:45 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Nationals, 4:05 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Nationals, 3:05 p.m., EST
NEW YORK METS (87-70)
Standings: Second in NL East. Second in NL wild-card standings. Lead Diamondbacks by 0.5 game for second NL wild card. Lead Braves by 1 game for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Mets trail Braves season series with Braves 6-5; Mets won season series with D’backs 4-3; Mets won season series with Padres 5-1.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 5
Mets schedule:
Sept. 25: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Brewers, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Brewers, 7:15 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Brewers, 3:10 p.m., EST
ATLANTA BRAVES (86-71)
Standings: Third in NL East. Fourth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Diamondbacks by 1.5 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Braves lead season series with Mets 6-5; Braves won season series with Diamondbacks 5-2; Braves lost season series with Padres 4-3; Braves won season series with Mets 7-6.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 5
Braves schedule:
Sept. 25: vs. Mets, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: vs Mets, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Royals, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Royals, 7:20 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Royals, 3:20 p.m., EST
NL CENTRAL
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (90-67)
Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 9.5 games.
Tiebreakers: Brewers lost season series with Dodgers 4-3; Brewers lost season series with Phillies 4-2.
Magic number to clinch NL Central: Clinched on Sept. 18.
Brewers schedule:
Sept. 25: at Pirates, 6:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Pirates, 12:35 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Mets, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs. Mets, 7:15 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Mets, 3:10 p.m., EST
NL WEST
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (93-64)
Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Padres by 2 games.
Tiebreakers: Dodgers trail season series with Padres 8-3; Dodgers lost season series with Phillies 5-1; Dodgers won season series with Brewers 4-3.
Magic number to clinch NL West: 4
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 19.
Dodgers schedule:
Sept. 25: vs. Padres, 10:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: vs. Padres, 10:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Rockies, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Rockies, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Rockies, 3:10 p.m., EST
SAN DIEGO PADRES (91-66)
Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 2 games. First in NL wild-card standings. Lead Mets by 4 games for first NL wild card. Lead Diamondbacks by 4.5 games for second NL wild card. Lead Braves by 5 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Padres and Diamondbacks season series tied 5-5; Padres lead season series with Dodgers 8-3; Padres won season series with Braves 4-3; Padres lost season series with Mets 5-1.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 24.
Padres schedule:
Sept. 25: at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 26: at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: at Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: at Diamondbacks, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: at Diamondbacks, 3:10 p.m., EST
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (87-71)
Standings: Third in NL West. Third in NL wild-card standings. Lead Braves by 0.5 game for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: D’backs and Padres season series tied 5-5; D’backs lost season series with Braves 5-2; D’backs lost season series with Mets 4-3.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 5
Diamondbacks schedule:
Sept. 25: vs. Giants, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 27: vs. Padres, 9:40 p.m., EST
Sept. 28: vs, Padres, 8:10 p.m., EST
Sept. 29: vs. Padres, 3:10 p.m., EST
CURRENT POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Yankees (1), Guardians (2) byes
Tigers (6) at Astros (3)
Royals (5) at Orioles (4)
NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Dodgers (1), Phillies (2) byes
Diamondbacks (6) at Brewers (3)
Mets (5) at Padres (4)
Note: Higher seed will host all games (from Oct. 7-9).
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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.
