Mom’s MLB ticket surprise sends boys running and crying
In Charlotte, NC, Charlie Sue surprised her sons, Austin and Ducky, with tickets to see the Red Sox, sending the boys running and crying in joy.
Major League Baseball’s 2026 playoff race is heating up as the season enters its final month, with plenty of uncertainty surrounding the wide-open wild-card races, particularly in the American League.
Entering play Wednesday, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have the top two wild card spots all but locked up, but there’s seven teams separated by less than five games for the AL’s final postseason berth. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays try to fight off their AL East rivals for the top spot in the division.
In the NL, the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers lead their respective divisions, with the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies holding firm grasps on their wild card positions. The San Diego Padres currently sit third, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks for the last berth.
Here’s a look at the latest in the MLB playoff race:
Updated: Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET
AL wild card standings
Top three teams qualify for wild-card series
- New York Yankees (74-57) +7.5 games
- Boston Red Sox (73-59) +6 games
- Cleveland Guardians (68-66)
- Texas Rangers (66-67) – 1.5 GB
- Baltimore Orioles (64-68) – 3 GB
- Toronto Blue Jays (64-69) – 3.5 GB
- Minnesota Twins (64-69) – 3.5 GB
- Seattle Mariners (64-70) – 4 GB
- Detroit Tigers (62-71) – 5.5 GB
NL wild card standings
Top three teams qualify
- Chicago Cubs (76-58) +4 games
- Philadelphia Phillies (74-60) +2 games
- San Diego Padres (72-62)
- Arizona Diamondbacks (71-63) – 1 GB
- Miami Marlins (67-66) – 4.5 GB
- St. Louis Cardinals (66-67) – 5.5 GB
- Pittsburgh Pirates (65-70) – 7.5 GB
AL East
- Tampa Bay Rays (79-54)
- New York Yankees (74-57) – 4 GB
- Boston Red Sox (73-59) – 5.5 GB
AL Central
- Chicago White Sox (69-63)
- Cleveland Guardians (68-66) – 2 GB
- Minnesota Twins (64-69) – 5.5 GB
AL West
- Houston Astros (66-66)
- Texas Rangers (66-67) – 0.5 GB
- Seattle Mariners (64-70) – 3 GB
NL East
- Atlanta Braves (77-55)
- Philadelphia Phillies (74-60) – 4 GB
- Miami Marlins (67-66) – 10.5 GB
NL Central
- Milwaukee Brewers (81-51)
- Chicago Cubs (76-58) – 6 GB
- St. Louis Cardinals (66-67) – 15.5 GB
NL West
- Los Angeles Dodgers (80-52)
- San Diego Padres (72-62) – 9 GB
- Arizona Diamondbacks (71-63) – 10 GB