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Keep track of who has clinched a spot in the 2018 MLB postseason

Even 162 games wasn't enough to decide everything in the National League so we'll crown division champs, as well as determine who's playing in the wild-card game with a day of bonus baseball action Monday. The fun starts with Brewers-Cubs at 1:05 p.m. ET followed by Rockies-Dodgers at 4:09 ET. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN & ESPN Radio.

All four teams will play on, with the winners moving to the division series round and the losers meeting in a do-or-die wild-card game Tuesday.

For more, including current playoff matchups, check out our "Hunt for October" page.


MONDAY'S TIEBREAKER SCHEDULE

Milwaukee Brewers (TBD) at Chicago Cubs (Jose Quintana), at 1:05 p.m. ET on ESPN: The NL Central race comes down to this showdown after the Brewers swept the Tigers in their final series of the season while the Cubs downed the Cardinals on the final Sunday to take two-of-three from St. Louis. Chicago earned home-field advantage in the tiebreaker game by edging Milwaukee in a heated season series between the rivals.


Colorado Rockies (German Marquez) at Los Angeles Dodgers (Walker Buehler), at 4:09 p.m. ET on ESPN: The Dodgers played their way into this NL West tiebreaker with a three-game sweep of the Giants capped by a 15-0 laugher on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Rockies kept hope for the first division title in franchise history alive by rolling past the Nationals in Sunday's finale. Monday's game is in L.A. because the Dodgers took the season series 12-7, including a three-game sweep of the Rockies at Dodger Stadium two weeks ago.


WHO IS IN

Los Angeles Dodgers (clinched playoff spot Sept. 29)

The Dodgers clinched at least a wild-card spot with a win over their historic rivals Saturday, beating the Giants 10-6 in San Francisco. The win brought them to a half-game behind the Rockies in the NL West.

What does clinching a playoff spot mean? They're in, but they're still chasing a shot at winning the NL West outright.

What's next? A visit from the Rockies on Monday for the NL West crown.


Colorado Rockies (clinched playoff spot Sept. 28)

The Rockies locked up at least an NL wild-card berth with a 5-2 victory over the Nationals on Friday, but more could be in store for them. The Rockies, who have never won the NL West, are tied with the Dodgers in the division race.

What does clinching a playoff spot mean? Colorado is in the postseason for the fifth time in franchise history and will be making consecutive playoff appearances for the first time.

What's next? Monday's tiebreaker at Dodger Stadium for the NL West title.


Milwaukee Brewers (clinched playoff spot Sept. 26)

The Brewers clinched a playoff spot by completing a three-game sweep of the Cardinals on Wednesday. But they still have their sights set on the NL Central title, as they enter the final game of the regular season tied with the Cubs.

What does clinching a playoff spot mean? Milwaukee is in the postseason for the first time since 2011 and the fifth time in franchise history.

What's next? Monday's tiebreaker with the Cubs at Wrigley Field for the NL Central title.


Chicago Cubs (clinched playoff spot Sept. 26)

With the Cardinals' loss to the Brewers on Wednesday, the Cubs clinched a playoff spot, but they still have work to do to win the NL Central.

What does clinching a playoff spot mean? The Cubs are in the postseason for the fourth consecutive year, a first in franchise history.

What's next? Monday's one-game tiebreaker at Wrigley against Milwaukee for the Central title.


Oakland Athletics (clinched playoff spot Sept. 24)

With the Rays' loss to the Yankees on Monday, the A's clinched a playoff spot. Oakland's attempt to chase down the Yankees for home-field advantage in the wild-card game came to an end on Friday night.

What does clinching a playoff spot mean? The A's, who finished last in the AL West the past three seasons, are the first team in the past 30 years to make the playoffs after having the lowest Opening Day payroll in baseball ($66 million).

What's next? Flying across the country to play an elimination game in the Bronx on Oct. 3.


New York Yankees (clinched AL wild card Sept. 22)

With their 3-2 win in extra innings against the Orioles combined with the Rays' loss in Toronto on Saturday, the Yankees clinched a wild-card appearance in the postseason for a second straight season.

What does clinching a wild-card spot mean? Not a ton, since it was expected for weeks. The real task for the Yankees was securing home-field advantage over the A's in the one-game playoff, and they did by defeating the host Red Sox, 11-6, on Friday night.

What's next? Working to become the first Yankees wild-card team to win the World Series. In its storied history, that's something the team has never achieved.


Atlanta Braves (clinched NL East Sept. 22)

The Braves returned to the winner's circle by clinching their first division title since 2013, having suffered through four straight losing seasons and a rebuilding effort to get there. They eliminated the Phillies on Saturday in a game in which Mike Foltynewicz took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before the Braves' 5-3 win over Philadelphia.

What does clinching the NL East spot mean? They've won their second division title since their streak of 14 first-place finishes in 15 years was snapped in 2006.

What's next: Waiting to see how Monday shakes out to find out who they'll meet in the division series, which starts Oct. 4.


Houston Astros (clinched AL West Sept. 25; clinched playoff spot Sept. 21)

The defending World Series champions are back in the playoffs and back on top of the AL West with another 100-win season.

What does clinching the division mean? They can catch their breaths after the surprising amount of pressure the A's put on them down the stretch and see who survives the wild-card game while they get ready to defend their title.

What's next: They'll be making their first back-to-back playoff appearance since 2004 and '05, having won consecutive division titles for the first time since 1997-99. That was when they were in the NL Central, so it's a franchise first in their AL incarnation.


Boston Red Sox (clinched AL East Sept. 20; clinched season's first playoff spot Sept. 11)

The Red Sox clinched their third straight AL East title by beating the Yankees 11-6 at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. It's the first time in franchise history they've won three division titles in a row and, according to Elias Sports Bureau research, the first time they've clinched the division with a win over the Yankees. It's also the third time they've won the division under a manager in his first full year at the helm in Boston (2013, John Farrell; 1995, Kevin Kennedy).

What does clinching first mean? In the wild-card era, 12 of the 25 teams to clinch first were eliminated in the first round of the postseason, while seven reached the World Series, most recently the Cubs in 2016. Two of those seven teams were the Red Sox squads of 2007 and 2013, with Boston winning both times.

What's next: Having clinched the best record in baseball and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Red Sox will host the winner of the AL wild-card game, either the Yankees or A's, in Game 1 of the division series on Oct. 5.


Cleveland Indians (clinched AL Central Sept. 15)

While the Red Sox own baseball's best record and the AL's top seed, the Indians became 2018's first division winners after their 15-0 obliteration of the Tigers. Even though Cleveland owns the AL's fifth-best record, the Tribe easily pulled away from a weak AL Central pack, with none of their division rivals getting anywhere close to the .500 mark.

What does clinching the AL Central mean? It was the Indians' third consecutive AL Central title, and it marks their fourth trip to the postseason in six seasons under manager Terry Francona. The Indians have never finished below .500 on Francona's watch.

What's next: The Indians will play the AL West champion in the division series beginning Oct. 5.