Dodgers and Yankees win the last two division titles, but there are still four MLB playoff spots left

Sept. 27 (UPI) — The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, winners of the National League and American League respectively, have secured the final two division titles of the MLB season, but four of 12 playoff spots are still up for grabs.

Pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed just two hits in 6 2/3 shutout innings as Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Alex Verdugo led the Yankees to a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in New York.

The victory clinched the American League East title for the Yankees, their fifth of six playoff berths for the division title.

“We just focused on getting the job done,” Cole told reporters.

Hours later, the Dodgers secured their final division victory with a 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday in Los Angeles. The victory gave Los Angeles its 11th National League West title in 12 years.

Catcher Will Smith and outfielder Andy Pages hit a home run to win the game. Dodgers starter Walker Buehler allowed five hits and one run over five innings.

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman twisted his right ankle in the game but is expected to be ready for the playoffs, which begin Tuesday with the Wild Card Series.

The Philadelphia Phillies (94-65) and Milwaukee Brewers (91-68) won additional National League division titles, taking the East and Central Division titles, respectively. The Padres (91-68), four games behind the Dodgers (95-64), secured one of the National League’s three wild-card berths.

The New York Mets (87-70) and Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71) currently occupy the other two wild card spots in the National League. The Atlanta Braves (86-71) are one game behind in this race and are the only other National League team in the competition.

In the American League, the Cleveland Guardians (92-67) and Houston Astros (86-73) secured the other two division berths, with titles in the Central and West Divisions.

The Baltimore Orioles (88-71), five games behind the Yankees (93-65) in the East, are the only American League team to clinch a wild card spot.

The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals — both 85-74 — currently have wild-card slots. The Minnesota Twins (82-77) are three games behind in this race.

The Tigers host the Chicago White Sox (39-120), who are tied with the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in the modern MLB era, in their final three games of the season. They can secure a wild card slot with another Twins win or loss.

The Twins can only secure a wild card spot with a season-ending win against the Orioles and a White Sox win against the Tigers or a Braves win against the Royals.

The Braves will play a doubleheader against the Mets on Monday, one day after the final scheduled lineup of the MLB regular season. These games were postponed due to Hurricane Helene.

The Braves and Mets each have a tiebreaker against the Diamondbacks for a playoff spot. The Mets must win the doubleheader to secure a tiebreaker over the Braves.

The Tigers and Royals could secure a spot in the playoffs as early as Friday. The Tigers host the White Sox in Detroit on Friday at 6:40 p.m. EDT. The Braves host the Royals in Atlanta at 7:20 p.m.

The Brewers host the Mets in Milwaukee at 8:10 p.m. The Diamondbacks face the Padres in Phoenix at 9:40 p.m.