MLB playoff odds Sept. 23: Braves, Athletics clinch divisions

Taking a look at the latest MLB post-season odds from Cool Standings and Baseball Prospectus.

Sep 23, 2013, 2:52 PM UTC

Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

The MLB playoff picture gained clarity over the weekend, with more of the top teams clinching their divisions and some of the Wild Card contenders putting distance between themselves and the rest of the pack. With only seven days left of the regular season, teams will make a final push as they attempt to grab one of the five remaining playoff bids.

Let’s start with the AL, where the Athletics punched their ticked to the playoffs by winning the AL West.

y-clinched playoff spot, x-clinched division

			CoolStandings.com			Baseball Prospectus
Team	Wins	Losses	Div	WC	POFF	Div	WC	POFF
Red Sox-x	95	62	100	0	100	100	0	100
Athletics-x	93	63	100	0	100	100	0	100
Tigers	91	65	99.9	0.1	99.9	99.9	0.1	100
Rays	86	69	0	77.4	77.4	0	90.1	90.1
Indians	86	70	0.1	87.5	87.5	0.1	72.7	72.8
Rangers	84	71	0	28.6	28.6	0.1	35.0	35.0
Royals	82	73	0	4.8	4.8	0	1.5	1.5
Yankees	82	74	0	1.3	1.3	0	0.4	0.4
Orioles	81	74	0.0	0.2	0.2	0	0.2	0.2

The Rays, Indians and Rangers are the only three teams left with a realistic shot of earning a Wild Card spot, with the Royals, Yankees and Orioles all mathematically alive but needing a miracle.

Tampa Bay’s three game sweep over Baltimore greatly improved their chances while essentially eliminating a contender. The Rays saw their chances increase 20.1% over the weekend, while the Orioles odds fell 11.1%.

Cleveland earned a four-game sweep over the Houston Astros, while Texas lost two of three to Kansas City, putting the Indians firmly in the driver's seat for the postseason. The Rangers postseason odds fell 33.3% since Friday, while the Indians odds rose 22.2%.

On to the NL, where the playoff picture appears much clearer:

Team	Wins	Losses	Div	WC	POFF	Div	WC	POFF
Braves-x	92	63	100	0	100	100	0	100
Cardinals-y	91	65	86.0	14.0	100	78.3	21.7	100
Dodgers-x	90	66	100	0	100	100	0	100
Pirates	89	67	5.8	94.1	99.9	5.4	94.5	99.9
Reds	89	67	8.2	91.7	99.9	16.3	83.6	99.9
Nationals	84	72	0	0.2	0.2	0.0	0.2	0.2

The Braves clinched the NL East title on Sunday, while the Cardinals secured themselves a playoff spot. The Nationals lost a game against the Miami Marlins, giving them little hope of securing one of the two NL Wild Card spots.

The Reds won two of three against the Pirates, leaving the two teams tied atop the NL Wild Card standings. The NL Central rivals will meet again in the final series of the season that will likely decide who holds home-field advantage in the NL Wild Card.