Making sense of every tiebreaker scenario as MLB’s final weekend approaches

Major League Baseball postseason tiebreakers are determined mathematically rather than through sudden-death games, utilizing head-to-head records and intra-divisional records to resolve ties. In the American League West, the Houston Astros hold the tiebreaker over the Texas Rangers due to a 9-4 season-series advantage, requiring Texas to finish with an outright superior record to secure the division title.

In the AL Central, the Chicago White Sox own the tiebreaker over the Cleveland Guardians via a 7-6 regular-season series lead. Meanwhile, in the AL Wild Card race, the Boston Red Sox hold the tiebreaker over the White Sox and can secure the season tiebreaker over Cleveland with a victory at Fenway Park on Thursday.