MLB Playoff Picture for Week of Sept. 16

We're almost there, folks. There is roughly two weeks remaining until playoff baseball returns, and the races in both the American and National League are beginning to take shape, though there is still plenty of sorting out to do.

Here is MLB's playoff picture for the week of Sept.16

American League East

The New York Yankees have personified dominance all season long and continue to hold a nine-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Bombers lead over the Boston Red Sox has grown to a colossal 18 games.

American League Central

It's been a two-horse race between the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians for the entirety of 2019. However, Minny presently holds five-game lead over the Tribe after Terry Francona's club was unable to gain ground in the last two weeks -- going 3-3 in two separate crucial series against the Twins.

American League West

It's the Houston Astros world and the A's, Angels, Mariners, and Rangers are just living in it. The 'Stros hold an eight-game lead over Oakland as things stand.

American League Wild Card

This is going to be a captivating final two weeks of the season to see which clubs take the top two spots. The Athletics (90-61) hold a one-game lead over the Rays (89-62), who are hanging onto a 1.5 game advantage over the Indians.

National League East

When you're hot, you're hot and right now the Atlanta Braves are a runaway train, mowing down everything in their path. They are sitting pretty with a 10-game margin over the second-place Washington Nationals and their magic number to clinch the division is just three heading into Tuesday night.

National League Central

Arguably the most compelling divisional race in all of baseball, the NL Central is as tight as can be with just two weeks remaining. The St. Louis Cardinals have lost some ground as their lead as shrunk to just two games over the streaking Chicago Cubs and just three over the equally-hot Milwaukee Brewers.

National League West

In case you forgot, the Los Angeles Dodgers (97-54) clinched this one way back on Sept.10. Dave Roberts' club has a monstrous 20-game edge over the Diamondbacks.

National League Wild Card

The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies are in the midst of two-game skids and they could not have come at a worst time as both clubs now face an insurmountable deficit at five games back. It is now just a three horse race with the Nationals holding just a 0.5-game margin over the Cubs. The Brewers are right there, just one game behind Chicago and 1.5 behind Washington.