The MLB playoffs has some teams officially in as division champions, as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals clinched on Wednesday. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs will play in the National League wild card game, while the Mets and Dodgers are set to play in the division series round.
The Blue Jays surged ahead in the American League east over the second half of the season and they have now won their first division crown in 22 years. The team won over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday after putting up 15 runs and the team now is back in the playoffs as a division winner for the first time since back in the early 90s.
Marcus Stroman earned the win for the Blue Jays and the team won on what has carried them all season: home runs. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion had home runs along with Justin Smoak and the team now has the division crown. The Dodgers clinched the National League west title with a win against the San Francisco Giants after another strong performance from Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw improved to 16-7 on the season and he has kept himself in the mix for the Cy Young with teammate Zack Greinke.
The St. Louis Cardinals had already clinched a playoff berth and now they are National League central division champs after winning against the Pirates. The team won the division title for the third straight season and after losing the first game of a doubleheader, the Cardinals took care of business in Game 2. The Cardinals won 100 games with the clinching victory and that set up the Pirates and the Cubs officially in the wild card game.
Check here for more on the MLB playoffs and the clinching teams.
