As we near the halfway point of the 2023 regular season, we have a large enough sample size to reflect on the standings and what the postseason bracket would look like if the playoffs began today.

There have been the good surprises: teams like the Reds, Rangers, Marlins, Orioles and D-backs have performed beyond even the most optimistic of projections. On the other side are teams such as the Cardinals, Mets and Padres, who either haven't gotten things going or are in such a big hole that the playoffs feel unlikely.

Here’s a look at what the postseason would look like if it opened today.

All stats (standings not included) entering Tuesday's games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Byes: Rays (1) and Rangers (2)

Wild Card Series matchups

Angels (6) at Twins (3)

Yankees (5) at Orioles (4)

Just missed: Astros (0.5 games out), Blue Jays (1.0), Red Sox (1.5)

The Rays are still going strong with the best record in the Majors and a 108-win pace, which would set a franchise record, besting their 100-win season in 2021. It's been a dominant effort on both sides of the ball for Tampa Bay: their position players are first in the Majors with 18.6 WAR and second with 415 runs while their pitchers rank second with a 3.49 ERA. The Rangers, meanwhile, continue to defy expectations with an offense that leads the Majors in runs (439) and a pitching staff that is tied for fourth with a 3.77 ERA.

At 36-38, the Twins find themselves in first place as a result of the lackluster play by most of the teams in the AL Central. Baltimore's 45 wins trail only two MLB teams but they find themselves as the top Wild Card team due to sharing a division with the Rays. Shohei Ohtani's greatness and a more complete roster have the Angels right in the thick of things at the halfway point. An onslaught of injuries, including a second IL stint for Aaron Judge this year, coupled with an underperforming roster, has the Yankees barely hanging on to a playoff spot.

Division Series matchups

Angels (6) or Twins (3) at Rangers (2)

Yankees (5) or Orioles (4) at Rays (1)

With the Astros and Yankees taking a step back, the entire AL playoff picture looks different than it has in years past. Tampa Bay has a stronghold on the league right now and looks like the clear favorite. With several teams like the Astros and Jays barely behind the Yankees, there's likely to be plenty of turnover in the coming weeks. For now, the top-2 teams look steady, as both the Rays and Rangers hold 4-plus game leads in their respective divisions.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Byes: Braves (1) and D-backs (2)

Wild Card Series matchups

Dodgers (6) at Reds (3)

Giants (5) at Marlins (4)

Just missed: Phillies (2.0 games out), Brewers (2.0)

The underachievers in the NL, such as the Cardinals, Mets, Padres and even the Dodgers, have created openings for a plethora of newcomers. The Braves remain at the top with their usual dominance on both sides of the ball. They've been led by Ronald Acuña Jr.'s prolific pace to set potential power/speed records and Sean Murphy's ascension to a new level. Arizona has been one of baseball's surprise teams thanks to top-level performances from Corbin Carroll and Zac Gallen.

Beyond the top-2 teams, there is a whole lot of uncertainty. The Dodgers feel like a good bet to either stay in their current position or make yet another run for the division title. Miami finds itself 10 games over .500 in no small part thanks to Luis Arraez's chase for .400. The Reds have won a whopping 10 games in a row to secure their position in first place in the NL Central. The Giants, too, have gone on a recent hot stretch to put themselves right in the playoff mix.

Division Series matchups

Dodgers (6) or Reds (3) at D-backs (2)

Giants (5) or Marlins (4) at Braves (1)

This is Atlanta's league to lose, as they have outscored their opponents by 102 runs; the Giants are the only other team in the NL above a +50 run differential (52 runs). While one would assume that some of the underperformers -- like the Mets or Padres -- will make a run in the second half, we're far enough into the season that it's more of an uncertainty than a formality. If things continue at this pace, there'd be four newcomers to the NL playoff field.

Who's out from last year?

Astros, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Guardians, Mariners, Mets, Padres, Phillies

As of now, only four teams from last year's playoff field are in this year's postseason bracket: the Braves, Dodgers, Rays and Yankees. Of the teams currently on the outside looking in, the Astros and Phillies are the closest to a playoff position. The Cardinals are the furthest behind at nearly 10 games back of a playoff spot.

Who's new this year?

Angels, D-backs, Giants, Marlins, Orioles, Rangers, Reds, Twins

Of all the potential newcomers in the playoff field, Arizona and Texas have the highest playoff odds according to FanGraphs, with both teams registering above 70%. The Reds are projected with the lowest playoff odds at under 20%.