American League-leading Tampa Bay (97-63) is guaranteed to face the winner of the Yankees-Red Sox wild-card series in the Division Series, despite having home-field advantage through the ALCS. MLB’s bracket prioritizes division champions.
MLB gives division winners either a first-round bye or a home series against the lowest-seeded available wild-card team, rather than seeding the full field by record. Houston and Texas (both 79-81) are still competing for the AL West; the winner is guaranteed to be MLB’s first division champion without a winning record.
One alternative raised is NFL-style reseeding after the wild-card round. The article also notes significant injury issues for both the Yankees and Red Sox, including Aaron Judge’s calf strain.
