Four MLB Teams Clinch as Two Playoff Races Remain Open

Four teams clinched postseason berths Thursday, leaving the American League West title and the National League’s final wild-card place among the key unresolved races as the regular season entered its final weekend. The Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres secured spots, according to reports on the day’s games and clinching outcomes. The AL West remained a three-team contest after Seattle beat Houston 6-5 in 10 innings Thursday. Houston and Texas were tied atop the division in the standings reported after Thursday’s games, with Houston holding the tiebreaker. Seattle remained mathematically alive. The division winner will claim the remaining AL postseason place, while the other teams’ chances depend on the final results. The tight division race came as Houston and Texas were reported below .500 entering Friday’s play. One account said either team would need to sweep its final three games to avoid reaching the postseason with a losing record. The standings were changing quickly, and reports contained differing snapshots during the final week, so those records and the remaining-game count should be understood in their reported time context.