MLB Playoff Picture 2024: Yankees Clinch AL East; Updated Bracket, Standings

The New York Yankees are champions of the American League East for the second time in three seasons.

Having already secured a spot in the MLB playoffs, the Bronx Bombers clinched the division with a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

New York is battling with the Cleveland Guardians for the AL's top seed as well and will receive a bye in the Wild Card Series.

Here's a look at the current postseason picture and standings at the time of writing.

Projected MLB Playoff Bracket

• AL Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Kansas City Royals; No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Detroit Tigers
• NL Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks; No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 New York Mets
  
• First-Round Byes: No. 1 New York Yankees and No. 2 Cleveland Guardians (American League); No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers and No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies (National League)

MLB Standings

AL East

1. New York Yankees (93-66); clinched division 
2. Baltimore Orioles (88-71, 5 GB); clinched playoff berth
3. Boston Red Sox (80-79, 13 GB) 
4. Tampa Bay Rays (78-81, 15 GB) 
5. Toronto Blue Jays (74-85, 19 GB)

AL Central

1. Cleveland Guardians (92-67); clinched division 
2. Kansas City Royals (85-74, 7 GB) 
3. Detroit Tigers (85-74, 7 GB) 
4. Minnesota Twins (82-76, 9.5 GB) 
5. Chicago White Sox (39-120, 53 GB)

AL West

1. Houston Astros (86-73); clinched division
2. Seattle Mariners (82-77, 4 GB) 
3. Texas Rangers (75-84, 11 GB) 
4. Oakland Athletics (69-90, 17 GB) 
5. Los Angeles Angels (63-96, 23 GB)

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies (94-65); clinched division
2. New York Mets (87-70, 6 GB) 
3. Atlanta Braves (86-71, 7 GB) 
4. Washington Nationals (69-90, 25 GB) 
5. Miami Marlins (58-100, 35.5 GB)

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers (91-68); clinched division 
2. St. Louis Cardinals (81-78, 10 GB) 
3. Chicago Cubs (81-78, 10 GB) 
4. Cincinnati Reds (76-83, 15 GB) 
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (74-85, 17 GB)

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (94-64); clinched playoff berth 
2. San Diego Padres (91-67, 3 GB); clinched playoff berth
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71, 6.5 GB) 
4. San Francisco Giants (79-80, 15.5 GB) 
5. Colorado Rockies (61-98, 33.5 GB)

This being the Yankees, seasons aren't judged solely on whether or not they win the division. Hitting that benchmark alleviates some pressure on manager Aaron Boone, but USA Today's Bob Nightengale already reported that his future in the dugout could hinge on the team's playoff showing.

New York has endured a relatively up-and-down campaign for a team that hit 90-plus wins.

The team was riding high in the first half thanks to a 45-19 start. Then it started slumping and watched the Orioles claim a one-game lead in the AL East heading into the All-Star break.

The Yankees and Orioles were running neck and neck through the end of August, and it was only in September when New York began to create some breathing room.

Not only that, but it also asserted a claim to be the World Series favorite in a field without one candidate standing head and shoulders above the rest. While expectations are always through the roof in the Big Apple, this is a roster that warrants that kind of hype.

To that end, no player will shoulder a larger burden than Aaron Judge.

Beyond the fact that the 32-year-old hasn't won a World Series—pretty much a prerequisite to truly becoming a legendary figure in pinstripes—he hasn't really had a signature run in October, either. In 44 career playoff games, he has 13 home runs and a .211/.310/.462 slash line.

Juan Soto's impending free agency will be a subplot of New York's postseason as well. The 25-year-old has hit as good as he ever has over a full 162-game season and put himself in position for a massive payday this winter.

The reaction toward Soto within the fanbase and local press might be unforgiving if he doesn't help to get the Yankees over the top, though.