The Houston Astros remain inevitable in the American League after securing their eighth consecutive postseason berth.

Houston secured its spot with a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. The Astros not only secured a playoff spot, but also the AL West for the fourth year in a row.

Here are the updated playoff standings and possible pairings through Tuesday’s games (as of 10:40 p.m. ET).

Expected matches in the American League playoffs

• First round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland Guardians
• Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Detroit Tigers, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals

Expected playoff games of the National League

• First round bye: No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies
• Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 New York Mets, No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 Arizona Diamondbacks

1. New York Yankees (92-65)*
2. Baltimore Orioles (87-70, 5GB)*
3. Boston Red Sox (80-78, 12.5GB)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (78-79-78, 14GB)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (73-85, 19.5GB)

1. Cleveland Guardians (91-67)**
2. Kansas City Royals (83-74, 7.5GB)
3. Detroit Tigers (83-74, 7.5GB)
4. Minnesota Twins (81-76, 9.5GB)
5. Chicago White Sox (36-120, 54GB)

1. Houston Astros (86-72)**
2. Seattle Mariners (81-77, 5GB)
3. Texas Rangers (74-82, 11 GB)
4. Oakland Athletics (67-89, 18GB)
5. Los Angeles Angels (63-93, 22GB)

1. Baltimore Orioles (+4 games)*
2. Detroit Tigers (-)
3. Kansas City Royals (-)
4. Minnesota Twins (2GB)
5. Seattle Mariners (2.5GB)
6. Boston Red Sox (3.5GB)
7. Tampa Bay Rays (5GB)

1. Philadelphia Phillies (93-65)**
2. New York Mets (87-70, 5.5 GB)
3. Atlanta Braves (86-71, 6.5GB)
4. Washington Nationals (69-88, 23.5GB)
5. Miami Marlins (58-99, 34.5GB)

1. Milwaukee Brewers (90-67)**
2. Chicago Cubs (81-77, 9.5GB)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (79-77, 10.5 GB)
4. Cincinnati Reds, (76-82, 14.5GB)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (73-84, 17GB)

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-63)*
2. San Diego Padres (90-66, 3GB)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (87-70, 6.5GB)
4. San Francisco Giants (78-79, 15.5GB)
5. Colorado Rockies (60-96, 33GB)

1. San Diego Padres (+3 games)
2. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)
3. New York Yankees (-)
4. Atlanta Braves (1GB)

*Indicates a secured playoff spot

**Denotes the final division

This season has been more difficult for the Astros than any since that winning streak began in 2017. With a 33-40 record, they appeared to be in trouble for most of the first half and found themselves facing a 10-game deficit in the AL West on June 18.

Since then, the Astros have been considered arguably the best team in the AL. On July 20, they overtook the Seattle Mariners at the top of the standings and have not looked back since..

Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker and Jose Altuve have carried the brunt of the lineup, hitting 78 home runs between them. Tucker’s return on Sept. 6 after missing three months with a broken tibia came at just the right time for their push into the playoffs.

Even though the rotation is not as deep as it has been in previous years, the top end remains a problem for opposing teams in a playoff series. Framber Valdez has a 2.91 ERA. Ronel Blanco, a 30-year-old who has made 24 total MLB appearances before 2024, has a 2.88 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.

Hunter Brown, who posted a 5.09 ERA in 29 starts last year, has a 3.49 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 170 innings.

The formula is good for the Astros to go deep in the postseason again. They have made the ALCS each of the last seven years, with four World Series appearances and two titles in that span.