2024 MLB Playoff Picture: Guardians Clinch AL Central; Updated Standings, Standings | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

Having already secured a spot in the postseason, the Cleveland Guardians can now celebrate winning the 2024 American League Central title.

The Guardians secured the division on Saturday with the Kansas City Royals' defeat of the San Francisco Giants, giving Cleveland the AL Central title for the fifth time since 2016.

Here are the updated playoff standings and possible pairings through Saturday's game (as of 7:30 p.m. ET).

Expected matches in the American League playoffs

• First round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland Guardians
• Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Minnesota Twins, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals

Expected playoff games of the National League

• First round bye: No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies
• Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 New York Mets, No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 Arizona Diamondbacks

1. New York Yankees (90-64)*
2. Baltimore Orioles (86-68, 4GB)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (77-78, 13.5GB)
4. Boston Red Sox (76-78, 14GB)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (73-82, 17.5GB)

1. Cleveland Browns (90-65)**
2. Kansas City Royals (82-72, 7.5GB)
3. Minnesota Twins (81-73, 8.5GB)
4. Detroit Tigers (80-74, 9.5GB)
5. Chicago White Sox (36-118, 53.5GB)

1. Houston Astros (84-70)
2. Seattle Mariners (79-75, 5GB)
3. Texas Rangers (73-81, 11 GB)
4. Oakland Athletics (67-87, 17GB)
5. Los Angeles Angels (62-92, 22GB)

1. Baltimore Orioles (86-69, +4.5 games)
2. Kansas City Royals (82-73, +0.5 game)
3. Minnesota Twins (81-73)
4. Detroit Tigers (81-74, 0.5GB)
5. Seattle Mariners (79-75, 2GB)
6. Tampa Bay Rays (77-78, 4.5GB)
7. Boston Red Sox (76-78, 5GB)

1. Philadelphia Phillies (92-63)*
2. New York Mets (86-69, 6GB)
3. Atlanta Braves (84-71, 8GB)
4. Washington Nationals (69-86, 23 GB)
5. Miami Marlins (57-98, 35 GB)

1. Milwaukee Brewers (88-66)**
2. Chicago Cubs (79-76, 9.5GB)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (77-77, 11 GB)
4. Cincinnati Reds, (76-80, 13GB)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (72-83, 16.5GB)

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (92-62)*
2. San Diego Padres (88-66, 4GB)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (86-68, 6GB)
4. San Francisco Giants (76-79, 16.5GB)
5. Colorado Rockies (59-95, 33GB)

1. San Diego Padres (88-66, +2.5 games)
2. Arizona Diamondbacks (86-68, +0.5 game)
3. New York Mets (86-69)
4. Atlanta Braves (84-71, 2GB)
5. Chicago Cubs (79-76, 7GB)
6. St. Louis Cardinals (77-77, 8.5 GB)

*Indicates a secured playoff spot

**Denotes the final division

The Guardians clinched a playoff spot with a 3-2 overtime win over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. New manager Stephen Vogt led the Guardians back to the top of the AL Central in 2023 after a disappointing 76-86 record.

Since MLB adopted the six-division format in 1994, Cleveland has won more AL Central titles than any other club (12). This is the club's fifth division title and sixth playoff appearance in the last nine seasons.

Even though the Guardians won the division, the team still has a lot to do in the playoff race. They are still battling with the New York Yankees for the best record in the AL and home field advantage in the American League playoffs.

The Yankees have the tiebreaker because they won four of six head-to-head matches in the regular season, so Cleveland would need to have a better record to secure first place.

Cleveland hasn't finished a season with the best record in the AL since 2017 (102-60). The team has only one playoff series win since reaching the 2016 World Series, when it defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2022 AL Wild Card Series.

Regardless of what happens with first place in the standings, the Guardians are in a good position with a magic number of three to secure a bye in the first round and avoid the wild card series. They are 5.5 Games ahead of the AL West-leading Houston Astros with six games remaining.

The Guardians and Astros will play a three-game series at Progressive Field from September 27-29 to close out the regular season. Cleveland could take a lot of drama out of that series if it secures a top-two seed before it begins.