Ahead of the MLB playoffs, a look at t he final week of the season

Last season, Major League Baseball added a third wild card team in each league. The idea to add more excitement to the stretch drive, while adding profits for more playoff games despite shorter series appears to be working. There are some exciting races in September for the final playoff positions, and the final week of the regular season offers plenty of excitement, engagement and betting action. 

Along with the teams records and standings, playoff spots and key remaining games are provided below. There is a wild race for the top record in September as well. Leading online sportsbooks and the top books offering dime lines also offer different prop bets on baseball. Circa Sports in Las Vegas has odds on each team to finish with the most wins for each month.

I covered this previously at OSGA during the summer with MLB props, and missed out on some longshots who contender in July. Now in August, I have the Twins again, along with the Tigers and Blue Jays to have the most wins in September. Baltimore (17-9) won best record in July at 17/1 odds, and August saw Seattle (21-6) win the most games at longer odds. 

Here are the teams leading the race for most September wins, along with their records and Circa odds to have the most wins in the month (plus Oct. 1). Tiebreakers for most wins are fewest losses. 

National League
San Diego, 14-5 (8 straight wins)
Milwaukee, 14-7 
Miami, 12-7
Arizona, 12-8 
Pittsburgh, 12-8 
Los Angeles, 11-8
Philadelphia, 11-9
Atlanta, 11-10 

American League
Toronto, 13-7 
Minnesota, 13-7
New York, 13-7
Tampa Bay, 13-9
Detroit, 12-8
Baltimore 12-9
Kansas City, 11-8

MLB ⚾️
Most Sep/Oct Regular Season Wins

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— Circa Sports (@CircaSports) August 31, 2023

The Seattle Mariners are just 8-12 in September after going a MLB-best 21-6 in August to push their way to first place in the AL West. Now the Mariners are in the most heated division race and wild card chase. Seattle is 1-game behind AL West leader Texas and a half game behind division rival Houston in a heated division chase. The Mariners (1 1/2) and Astros (1) trail Toronto for the final wild card playoff spot.

The top-2 division winners in each league get a first round bye in the MLB Playoffs and advance directly to the Division Series. The other four teams play a best-of-3 in the Wild Card Series with all games held on the top-seeded teams home field. Division winner with the worst record plays the worst wild card (3 vs 6), and the other two wild cards play (4-5). ,Br />
MLB Postseason Format Explained

National League Leaders and Schedules

Division winners:

East - Atlanta (99-55) - at Washington (2), at Chicago Cubs (3)m at Washington (3)
West - Los Angeles (94-59) - San Francisco (2), at Colorado (4), at San Francisco (3)
Central - Milwaukee (88-66) - at Miami (2), St. Louis (3), Chicago Cubs (3)

Wild Card race

Philadelphia (85-69) 
Arizona (81-73)
Chicago (80-74)
Miami (79-75)
Cincinnati (79-76)
San Francisco (77-77)

Phillies - New York Mets (2), Pittsburgh (3), at New York Mets (3)
Diamondbacks - at New York Yankees (2), at Chicago White Sox (3), at Houston (3)
Cubs - Colorado (2), at Atlanta (3), at Milwaukee (3)
Marlins - Milwaukee (2), at New York Mets (3), at Pittsburgh (3)
Reds - Pittsburgh (2), at Cleveland (2), at St. Louis (3)
Giants - at Los Angeles Dodgers (2), San Diego (3), at Los Angeles Dodgers (30)

American League Leaders and Schedules

Division winners

Central - Minnesota (82-72) - LA Angles (2), at Oakland (3), at Colorado (3)

Division and Wild Card race

East  - Baltimore (95-59)
          Tampa Bay (94-61)
          Toronto (86-68)          

West - Texas (85-68)
          Houston (85-69)
          Seattle (84-69)

Orioles - at Cleveland (2), at Washington (2), Boston (4)
Rays - Toronto (2), at Boston (2), at Toronto (3)
Blue Jays - at Tampa Bay (2), NY Yankees (3), Tampa Bay (3)
Rangers - Seattle (2), at LA Angels (3), at Seattle (4)
Astros - Kansas City (2), at Seattle (3), at Arizona (3)
Mariners - at Texas (2), Houston (3), Texas (4) 

It's an exciting race to the finish, and some teams will be left out and just barely miss the MLB playoffs, which start Oct. 3. 

World Series Odds 2023

World Series odds odds from BetOnline refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting.

+300  Atlanta Braves
+450  LA Dodgers
+700  Houston Astros
+750  Baltimore Orioles
+850  Tampa Bay Rays
+1400 Philadelphia Phillies
+1400 Seattle Mariners
+1400 Texas Rangers
+2000 Milwaukee Brewers
+2000 Toronto Blue Jays
+2200 Minnesota Twins
+4000 Chicago Cubs
+4500 Arizona Diamondbacks
+5000 Miami Marlins
+5500 Cincinnati Reds
+20000 San Francisco Giants 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and recognized as one of the sports industry's insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X (Twitter) @FairwayJay for more sports betting insights.