The National League wild card race is crammed.
The top two spots are being held safely by the Cubs and Phillies, but below for the third spot is five teams battling. The Padres hold the final spot entering Saturday, but the Diamondbacks are only half a game back, the Cardinals and Marlins are both three and half back, and then the Pirates are four and half games back.
Whether or not the Padres hold will be seen. They end the season at home against the D-backs, but also host the Marlins in the middle of the month. The standings will see many jumps and falls. Which, for someone not implicated, will be fun to watch.
1. Braves
Last week Atlanta got a practice test of October. And they aced it.
The club went 8-2, including a three-game sweep of the Dodgers and a Friday night 5-2 win over the division rival Phillies. The stretch opened up the Braves’ division lead to five games, and improved them to an 84-57 record.
A big reason for their resurgent season? Michael Harris II. The 25-year-old is slugging .501 with 24 homers on the season, and over his last 15 games, is slashing .309/.333/.618 with four homers. It’s an incredible bounce back after he posted a .678 OPS with 20 homers in 2025.
2. Brewers
The Crew was also tested by division rivals last week.
Milwaukee went to Chicago, where they split a series in a tough environment against the Cubs. They improved to a major-league-best 88-54 and put the Cubs eight games behind them in the standings.
The offense carried the club in that series, scoring 18 runs in two of the four games while bailing out Jacob Misiorowski, who allowed a season-high five earned runs and failed to post five innings for the first time in 2026. Jackson Chourio continues to be a churning chog in the lineup, who clubbed a homer against the Cubs after smacking seven in August.
3. Dodgers
A 4-6 week is nothing to brag about for the Dodgers.
They were swept by the Cubs, won a series against the Tigers, then dropped two of three at home to the Cardinals. Still, their +149 run differential is the second-best in the majors, and their 10-game lead in the NL West over the Padres is the largest in baseball.
The major concern for them, however, is Shohei Ohtani. The best player in baseball has been dealing with a neck issue and right arm issue, which could land him on the injured list with October right around the corner. Dave Roberts and the Dodgers are hopeful the superstar will be able to work through his issues with rest, but it would be a massive blow for a club looking to three-peat.
4. Cubs
Everybody wants to talk about Pete Crow–Armstrong. And that’s fair. He’s going to win the NL MVP. But let’s not take anything away from Alex Bregman.
The third baseman was lost in the first half of the season. He clubbed only nine homers, posted a .696 OPS, and looked like an albatross in a potent lineup. He was truly a problem for the Cubs. Well since the second half has started, Bregman has posted a .990 OPS, knocked in 41 runs (40 in the first half), and has launched 15 homers. 13 of which has come in the last 30 games.
His offense and rotation play of Clay Holmes and Kevin Gausman have catapulted the Cubs into a comfortable wild card standing. They do have a shot at the NL Central still, but eight games is a large hole to climb out of with 20 games left.
5. Yankees
Friday night saw the Yanks lose in more ways than one.
Leading 2-1 in the 10th, Paul Blackburn served up a walk-off bomb to Luis Campusano to spoil Max Fried‘s solid outing. The second loss came earlier in the third inning. Trent Grisham reached base, stole second, then was removed in the top of the third with hamstring tightness. Losing the outfielder for a long stretch would be brutal, as he’s been a staple on defense and a threat in the power department.
On the bright side, Aaron Judge checked off another mark on his return back from injury. The slugger took batting practice ahead of the series in San Diego, and the organization is discussing whether he needs a rehab assignment. Getting Judge back in September could be crucial, as the club is only four games behind the Rays and have a series against them starting September 22.
6. Phillies
Philadelphia enjoyed a five-game winning streak last week, helping them keep pace with the Braves in the standings.
One of those wins was absolutely exhilarating in Anaheim. Down to their final swings, Bryson Stott had a go-ahead home run robbed, leaving the game in the hands of Edmundo Sosa. The utility infielder promptly hit his first career grand slam, putting the Phils ahead to win 5-3.
Despite the strong play, the Phillies still have a small hill to climb in their attempt to win the NL East. They’re five games behind the Braves and lost to Atlanta Friday to open the four-game set. These next two weeks will be exciting, as Philadelphia and Atlanta play each other seven times in nine days.
7. Rays
Tampa has the best record in the AL. So why are they so low on the list?
Well, with the club only four games ahead of the Yankees in the standings, let’s look at the underlying stats. Their run differential is only +46. Their expected record is 75-66. Both numbers lower than the Yankees and Red Sox.
Last week also saw the first-place team lose two of three to the Mets at home without facing Nolan McLean or Christian Scott. Yikes. The offense has been better of late, but whether it holds up in the final month will decide whether this club is a division winner or wild card.
8. Red Sox
Rays or Yankees? Hold on, what about the Red Sox?
Boston could sneak their way into a division win. And here’s the argument. The club is only seven and a half back of the Rays, and will get to face them three more times in September. Factor in they also get to play the Royals, Rangers, Angels, and Guardians in the month, and it’s feasible to say the Red Sox could rocket their way past the Yankees in the division.
Thursday and Friday was also a great start to the month, as Boston won back-to-back one-run games against the division rival Orioles. Thanks Mickey Gasper.
9. White Sox
The White Sox are getting a big bat back in September.
The club activated Kyle Teel off the 10-day IL, giving the roster a much-needed boost at catcher. Drew Romo had been filling in with Edgar Quero, but the two of them posted OPS+s of 47 and 53. Look, Teel wasn’t much better when he played (58 OPS+), but the top prospect only played 20 games this season and posted a .886 OPS at Triple-A last season.
10. Padres
The NL wild card race is tight right now.
San Diego is currently hanging on to the third spot, all thanks to the Campusano walk-off dinger Friday night against the Yankees. It’s going to be a tight race the remainder of the stretch, and to make the playoffs, the Padres will need more heroics.
It’s been Fernando Tatis Jr. down the stretch, who was struggling mightily before August. He’s only clubbed 19 homers this year, but 11 of them have come in his last 3o games. Right now the Padres only lead the Diamondbacks by half a game in the standings for the final playoff spot, and the final six games of the season for San Diego come against the Dodgers and then D-backs. Buckle up.
Rest of the Field
11. Diamondbacks
12. Guardians
13. Astros
14. Marlins
15. Cardinals
16. Orioles
17. Pirates
18. Nationals
19. Rangers
20. Blue Jays
21. Twins
22. Mets
23. Reds
24. Royals
25. Tigers
26. Mariners
27. Angels
28. Giants
29. Rockies
30. Athletics
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