Sep 3, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (30) celebrates with second base Gleyber Torres (25) and second base Colt Keith (33) after he hits a three run home run in the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Coming out of Labor Day weekend, Major League Baseball's playoff races look a lot more interesting than they did just a week ago.

The American League wild card standings have tightened, with the Rangers' six-game winning streak vaulting Texas to fourth place, chasing down the Seattle Mariners who cling to the third and final postseason spot.

In the NL Central, the Chicago Cubs carved a few games out of the Brewers' division lead over the past two weeks and while a comeback probably isn't the cards, they're in good position to make Milwaukee sweat a bit into September.

Here's a look at the latest MLB standings:

Updated through games played Wednesday, Sept. 3

AL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

  1. New York Yankees (77-62): +4.5 games
  2. Boston Red Sox (78-63): +4.5 games
  3. Seattle Mariners (73-67)
  4. Texas Rangers (72-69): 1.5 games back
  5. Kansas City Royals (70-69): 2.5 GB
  6. Tampa Bay Rays (70-69): 2.5 GB
  7. Cleveland Guardians (69-69): 3 GB

NL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

  1. Chicago Cubs (80-60): +5 games
  2. San Diego Padres (76-64): +1 game
  3. New York Mets (75–65)
  4. San Francisco Giants (71-69): 4 games back
  5. Cincinnati Reds (70-70): 5 GB
  6. Arizona Diamondbacks (70-71): 5.5 GB
  7. St. Louis Cardinals (70-71): 6.5 GB

AL East

  1. Toronto Blue Jays (81-59)
  2. New York Yankees (77-62): 3.5 games back
  3. Boston Red Sox (78-63): 3.5 GB

AL Central

  1. Detroit Tigers (81-60)
  2. Kansas City Royals (70-69): 10 games back

AL West

  1. Houston Astros (77-63)
  2. Seattle Mariners (73-67): 4 GB
  3. Texas Rangers (72-69): 5.5 GB

NL East

  1. Philadelphia Phillies (80-59)
  2. New York Mets (75-65): 5.5 games back

NL Central

  1. Milwaukee Brewers (86-54)
  2. Chicago Cubs (80-60): 5 GB

NL West

  1. Los Angeles Dodgers (78-61)
  2. San Diego Padres (76-64): 2.5 GB

MLB playoff bracket if season ended today

American League

  • Byes to ALDS: Tigers, Blue Jays
  • Wild Card Series
    • Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros
    • New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox (Boston wins tiebreaker)

American League

  • Byes to NLDS: Brewers, Phillies
  • Wild Card Series
    • New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers
    • San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB playoff picture: Wild card standings, bracket, 2025 division standings

Reporting by Jesse Yomtov, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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