Welcome to the final Sunday in the 2026 MLB season, and for four teams, there's chaos entering Game No. 162.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks have a shot at the final National League Wild Card spot depending on their respective results. And in the American League West, the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers are fighting to see who can win the division (they've already made history as either will be the first time ever that a division winner will be .500 or worse).
How will it all shake out? What are the tiebreakers? Here's everything you need to know as we head into the final slate of games:
NL Wild Card clinching scenarios
The Diamondbacks are one game behind the Phillies for the final NL Wild Card spot. If the Phillies beat the Rays, they clinch the third and
final spot. If they lose and the Diamondbacks win against the Padres, Arizona is in and Philadelphia is out with the D-backs holding the tiebreaker.
AL West clinching scenarios
The Astros just need to win over the A's and they're the AL West divisional winner thanks to their head-to-head tiebreaker advantage they have over the Rangers. A loss and a Rangers win over the Twins, and it's Texas who's in.
What are the MLB playoff tiebreakers?
- In the American League West, the Astros won their season series against the Rangers, so they own the tiebreaker
- In the National League Wild Card, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record, but in the Diamondbacks' case, because they split heir season series with the Phils, it goes intradivision record, and that's where Arizona holds the advantage.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: MLB playoff scenarios: How final NL Wild Card, AL West will be decided
