MLB Standings 2019: Yankees, Dodgers Are Divison Champs But Astros Lead World Series Home-Field Race

The New York Yankees (100-54) clinched their first AL East title in seven years Thursday night, beating the Los Angeles Angeles (69-84) for their 100th victory of the season. The Bronx Bombers joined the Los Angeles Dodgers (98-55) as the second team to officially win a division in the 2019 MLB season, but neither club is in the driver’s seat for home-field advantage in the World Series.

That position is occupied by the Houston Astros (100-53) with just 10 days remaining on the regular-season schedule. Houston didn’t play Thursday, maintaining a half-game lead over New York and staying two games in front of Los Angeles.

Houston essentially has a one-game lead over New York because the Astros own the tiebreaker. The Astros beat the Yankees in their season series, sweeping the AL East champs at home in April. New York took three out of four games from Houston in the Bronx in June.

A 12-4 record in September has propelled the Astros to the top of the overall MLB standings. The Yankees fell behind Houston by alternating wins and losses in their last six games.

The Astros have clinched a playoff berth, though the AL West is still mathematically undecided. Houston has an eight-game lead over the second-place Oakland Athletics (92-61). Houston’s magic number is two.

The Dodgers haven’t had to worry about winning the NL West for some time. L.A. clinched their seventh straight division championship 10 days ago. They lead the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks (78-75) by 20 games.

Los Angeles still has work to do in their attempt to secure the NL’s No.1 seed. The Atlanta Braves (94-60) have hung tight, trailing the Dodgers by 4.5 games. L.A. has owned the best record in the NL for virtually the entire season.

The Minnesota Twins (94-59) are a half-game ahead of Atlanta in the overall standings. Minnesota leads the Cleveland Indians (90-63) by four games in the AL Central. The Braves are in the playoffs and on the verge of clinching the NL East with a 9.5-game lead over the Washington Nationals (83-68).

The NL Central is MLB’s most competitive division. The St. Louis Cardinals (86-67) are three games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers (83-70) and four games in front of the Chicago Cubs (82-71).

The Athletics have a two-game lead in the AL Wild-Card race over the Indians and Tampa Bay Rays (90-63), who are tied for the second wild-card berth.

Washington and Milwaukee are separated by a game atop the NL Wild-Card standings. The New York Mets (79-73) are still alive, trailing Milwaukee by three games.