From playoff and stat races to goodbyes: What to watch in MLB's final weekend — SkimNews
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- Chicago White Sox and Cubs both clinched playoff spots Thursday — the first time the two clubs clinched on the same day in MLB history — with the White Sox called potentially the most shocking playoff team since the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays
- The Cleveland Guardians (83-76) and White Sox (82-77) are battling for the AL Central, with the No. 2 seed and a division series bye on the line; the White Sox hold the head-to-head tiebreaker
- The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros (both 79-80) are tied for the AL West, with the Astros holding the tiebreaker — the winner would set a new record for the worst-record division champion, surpassing the 2005 Padres' 82-80 mark
- Milwaukee Brewers (100-59) clinched the No. 1 NL seed Thursday after the Dodgers lost, giving them home-field advantage throughout the postseason
- Yordan Alvarez is the likely AL MVP winner despite Pete Alonso holding an eight-RBI Triple Crown lead, with Alvarez's .432 OBP and 151 estimated runs created cited as decisive advantages
- Junior Caminero is one of four AL sluggers tied at 41 home runs with Alvarez, Alonso, and Ben Rice heading into the final weekend — no three-way AL home run tie has ever been recorded
Why it matters: The White Sox and Cubs sharing Thursday's clinch is an MLB first that sets up the possibility of the first Chicago World Series since 1906, while the AL West is positioned to break the 2005 Padres' 82-80 record for the worst-record division winner.
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