MLB Standings 2022: Dodgers, Mets Not Close In Playoff Bracket After New York Wins Series

The New York Mets beat the Los Angeles Dodgers twice in three games in a battle of the National League's best teams. The Mets clinched the season series over the Dodgers, but it isn't likely to have an impact on the final playoff bracket.

The Dodgers are still seven games ahead of the Mets in the 2022 MLB standings, following this week's series at Citi Field. With only 30 games left on the schedule, New York (84-48) is running out of time to catch Los Angeles (90-40) for the NL's No. 1 seed.

Barring a September collapse, the Dodgers will enter the playoffs with MLB's best record. Los Angeles is on track to have home-field advantage in an NLCS matchup with the Mets.

The Dodgers have unofficially wrapped up the NL West title. Los Angeles has an enormous 18-game lead on the second-place San Diego Padres.

New York still has work to do for the NL East championship. The Mets have only a three-game lead over the Atlanta Braves. The division could ultimately be decided in the final week of the regular season when New York visits the defending World Series champs for a three-game series.

Atlanta is atop the NL wild-card standings. The Mets are 10.5 games in front of the Philadelphia Phillies, the NL's second wild-card team.

On paper, the Dodgers are clearly the best team in baseball. On pace to win 112 games, Los Angeles leads the majors in runs scored, batting average, ERA and WHIP. The Dodgers have outscored their opponents by 284 runs, while the Mets have a plus-129 run differential.

In a playoff series, the gap between the NL's top teams shrinks. Dodgers ace Walker Buehler is done for the year with Tommy John Surgery. Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer might give the Mets the two best pitchers in any series.

DeGrom surrendered four baserunners and one run over seven innings in a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday. Max Scherzer has a 2.27 ERA in 19 starts for the Mets.

All four of Los Angeles' starters who are likely to make up the team's playoff rotation have an ERA below 2.70. Tony Gonsolin recently went on the injured list with a 2.10 ERA, but the pitcher is expected to be back before the playoffs.

In the latest MLB playoff bracket, the Dodgers are in line to play either the Braves or the Phillies in the NLDS. In the Mets' first playoff series, New York would face the winner of the wild-card series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Padres.