MLB Standings Reveal a Way-Too-Early Look at Current Projected Playoff Bracket

Some surprising teams are charting a course toward baseball's postseason.

The surprising White Sox currently hold a wild card spot in the American League. | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Just as everyone predicted two months ago the Rays have rocketed out out to the best record in baseball, the Tigers are already 8 1/2 games out of first place and the Athletics are in sole possession of first place in the American League West The Red Sox and Mets are a combined 43-65, the White Sox are playing .510 baseball and everyone in the National League Central has won more games than they've lost.

We are not yet to Memorial Day weekend so it is probably a bit premature to look at what the playoff bracket would be if the season ended today. But it's still a fun exercise as it gives a binary pass-fail grade to teams with postseason aspirations.

In the American League, Tampa Bay would earn the No. 1 seed thanks to a 33-15 record and the Guardians have done enough to currently posses the No. 2 seed and the second bye.

The Athletics would host the Rangers in a clash of divisional foes in one wild card series while the Yankees, despite a 30-20 mark, would have to settle for homefield advantage against the White Sox in the other three-game sprint.

On the other side of the bracket the Braves and Dodgers would earn byes and await the winners of the two wild card series. Currently those would feature the Brewers hosting the Cubs in one and the Padres and Cardinals doing battle in San Diego.

Obviously much will change and there's plenty of good news for teams who do not see their names above. Five teams are within four games of the final wild card spot in each of the leagues. In the AL even Kansas City and Detroit, currently tied at 20-30, are still a very manageable 4 1/2 games out of the playoff picture.

MLB scores

Reds 9, Phillies 4

Diamondbacks 6, Giants 3

Braves 9, Marlins 1

Brewers 5, Cubs 0

Rays 5, Orioles 3

Mariners 5, White Sox 4

Nationals 8, Mets 4

Pirates 7, Cardinals 0

Twins 4, Astros 1

Guardians 3, Tigers 2

Blue Jays 2, Yankees 1

Dodgers 4, Padres 0

Rangers 5, Rockies 4

Red Sox 4, Royals 3

Athletics 6, Angels 5

MLB standings

American League East

Team	Record	Games Behind
Rays	33-15	--
Yankees	30-20	4.0
Blue Jays	22-27	11.5
Red Sox	22-27	11.5
Orioles	21-29	13.0

American League Central

Team	Record	Games Behind
Guardians	29-22	--
White Sox	25-24	3.0
Twins	23-27	5.5
Royals	20-30	8.5
Tigers	20-30	8.5

American League West

Team	Record	Games Behind
Athletics	25-24	--
Rangers	24-25	1.0
Mariners	24-27	2.0
Astros	20-31	6.0
Angels	17-33	8.5

National League East

Team	Record	Games Behind
Braves	34-16	--
Phillies	25-25	9.0
Nationals	25-25	9.0
Marlins	22-28	12.0
Mets	21-28	12.5

National League Central

Team	Record	Games Behind
Brewers	29-18	--
Cardinals	28-20	1.5
Cubs	29-21	1.5
Reds	26-24	4.5
Pirates	25-24	5.0

National League West

Team	Record	Games Behind
Dodgers	31-19	--
Padres	29-20	1.5
Diamondbacks	25-23	5.0
Giants	20-30	11.0
Rockies	19-31	12.0

MLB schedule

All times ET

Guardians vs. Tigers, 1:10 p.m.

Pirates vs. Cardinals, 1:15 p.m.

Mets vs. Nationals, 4:05 p.m.

Braves vs. Marlins, 6:40 p.m.

Blue Jays vs. Yankees, 7:05 p.m.

Athletics vs. Angels, 9:38 p.m.

Rockies vs. Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m.

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