MLB playoff races tighten as regular season enters final month

Major League Baseball enters its final month with several divisional and wild-card races unsettled. The Brewers hold an eight-game lead in the NL Central, while the Rays maintain a four-and-a-half-game cushion over the Yankees in the AL East. In the National League, the Diamondbacks hold a narrow half-game lead over the Padres for the final wild-card spot, with both teams scheduled for a three-game series to conclude the season. The AL West remains highly contested, with the Astros holding a one-game lead over the Rangers and a five-game lead over the Mariners. Meanwhile, the Cubs and Phillies appear to be in strong positions to secure playoff berths. Teams continue to adjust rosters and rotations as schedules intensify with critical head-to-head matchups throughout September.

• 12:24 PMCBS MLB — MLB Power Rankings: How the races stack up with one month left in the regular season