If the postseason began today, these would be the matchups

We're now officially one month into the 2024 regular season. There have been surprises, unforgettable moments and jaw-dropping performances already. Since it's never too early to look ahead to the fall, when the leaves change colors and the unparalleled excitement of the MLB postseason begins, here's a look at what the playoff matchups would be if the season ended today.

All stats are through Saturday's games

American League

Byes: Guardians (1) and Orioles (2)

Wild Card Series matchups

Tigers (6) at Mariners (3)

Royals (5) at Yankees (4)

Just missed: Red Sox (1/2 game out of WC spot), Rangers (1 1/2 games out of WC spot)

The Guardians have been the biggest surprise team in the AL so far this season, owners of the league’s best record at 19-8. With Josh Naylor and Steven Kwan becoming more dangerous at the plate all the time, joining perennial AL MVP candidate José Ramírez, as well as a bullpen that has been lights-out with a 2.49 ERA, Cleveland is rocking in the early going.

The Orioles and Yankees are right where we thought they’d be -- fighting for supremacy in the AL East. Baltimore and New York enter Sunday separated by mere percentage points, with the O’s currently atop the division.

Meanwhile, with young superstar Bobby Witt Jr. continuing to scorch the baseball, veteran catcher Salvador Perez slugging like he did back in 2021, and a starting rotation that has posted a 2.86 ERA, the Royals are 17-11 and just 2 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central.

The Tigers were one of the clubs to keep an eye on this season because of improvements seen over the past couple of years and burgeoning young talent. So far, Detroit is proving its mettle with a 15-12 record.

The Mariners got off to a slow start, but Seattle has won nine of its last 11 games to jump into first place in the AL West, thanks in large part to phenomenal pitching performances since April 10 -- over their last 15 games, Mariners pitchers own a 1.47 ERA, the best over a 15-game span in franchise history.

Division Series matchups

Royals (5) or Yankees (4) at Guardians (1)

Tigers (6) or Mariners (3) at Orioles (2)

Since losing the 2016 World Series in seven games to the Cubs, Cleveland has reached the postseason four times, never getting past the AL Division Series. The Guardians would like to finally make another run at breaking the longest active World Series title drought in the game -- 76 years. We’ve got a long way to go, but if the season ended today, their ticket to the AL Championship Series would have to be punched by either defeating the Royals or the Yankees -- the latter eliminated Cleveland in three of their four postseason trips since ’16.

The Orioles have some unfinished business to attend to. That involves getting back to the postseason and getting past the ALDS -- they were bounced in a sweep by the eventual World Series champion Rangers. If the regular season concluded today, they’d face either Detroit or Seattle.

National League

Byes: Braves (1) and Brewers (2)

Wild Card Series matchups

Reds (6) at Dodgers (3)

Cubs (5) at Phillies (4)

Just missed: Pirates (1 1/2 games out of WC), Mets (1 1/2 games out of WC)

We’d certainly expect to see the Braves and Dodgers among the division leaders at this point in the season. But we’d also expect to see each of those powerhouse teams as the top overall seed or the 2-seed in the NL. Don’t tell the Brewers that.

Despite trading ace Corbin Burnes in the offseason, as well as losing long-time manager Craig Counsell to the division rival Cubs, Milwaukee sits atop the NL Central, 1/2 game up on Chicago. Thanks to a surprisingly potent lineup in the early going -- the Brewers have hit 34 homers so far -- and a predictably superb bullpen effort thus far, the road to an NL Central crown may have to pass through Wisconsin.

We knew the Reds were an exciting, youthful bunch. With Elly De La Cruz leading the charge, Cincinnati is holding its own in the Central with a 15-12 mark. The Phillies, meanwhile, have been red-hot, winning eight of their last 10 and keeping the heat on the front-running Braves, just 1 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East.

Division Series matchups

Cubs (5) or Phillies (4) at Braves (1)

Reds (6) or Dodgers (3) at Brewers (2)

The Braves and Dodgers were each shockingly dispatched in their first postseason series last fall, with Atlanta falling to the Phillies and Los Angeles getting swept by the D-backs. Those two teams will be champing at the bit to get another chance to win it all this fall.

If the playoffs opened today, the Braves might just get an NLDS rematch against division-rival Philadelphia, or they could see the Cubs, who have weathered injuries to remain near the top of the NL Central. The Dodgers would need to beat the Reds to reach the Division Series against the Brewers.

Who’s out from last year?

Astros, Blue Jays, D-backs, Marlins, Rangers, Rays, Twins

Both World Series teams from last year, the D-backs and Rangers, would be on the outside looking in at the postseason field if the season ended today. The Rangers are far from alone in the category of postseason teams from last year not qualifying this year if it all concluded today. In fact, five of the six AL playoff teams from last year would be out, leaving the Orioles as the lone returning club: the Astros, Twins, Rays, the aforementioned Rangers and Blue Jays.

In the NL, the Marlins would join Arizona as the clubs not returning to the playoffs if the season ended now.

Who’s new this year?

Cubs, Guardians, Mariners, Reds, Royals, Tigers, Yankees

The Cubs and Mariners each missed the 2023 postseason by a single game. The way those clubs have begun the ’24 regular season, they’re vowing to not allow that to happen again this year. The Yankees had their worst season, by win-loss record, in over three decades last year -- the Bronx Bombers are World Series or bust every year, but getting back to the postseason is Step 1.

The Guardians aren’t far-removed from postseason play -- they made the playoffs in 2022. But they’re hungry to return there under new manager Stephen Vogt, who has them playing really well out of the gate. And the three remaining teams in this category -- the Reds, Royals and Tigers -- are all trying to make the future a reality now, with young and exciting rosters looking to upend the Central divisions in ’24.