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Dodgers and Yankees win the last two division titles, but four MLB playoff spots remain
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Dodgers and Yankees win the last two division titles, but four MLB playoff spots remain

The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate clinching the National League West division title Thursday after a 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate clinching the National League West division title Thursday after a 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

Sept. 27 (UPI) — The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, winners of the National League and American League respectively, captured the final two division titles of the MLB season, but four of the 12 playoff spots are still up for grabs.

Pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed just two hits in 6 2/3 shutout innings, while Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Alex Verdugo homered to lead the Yankees to a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in New York.

The victory gave the Yankees the American League East crown, the fifth of six playoff berths for the division title.

“We were just focused on getting the job done,” Cole told reporters.

Hours later, the Dodgers earned the final seeding as division winners with a 7-2 drubbing of the San Diego Padres Thursday in Los Angeles. The win gave Los Angeles its 11th National League West crown in 12 years.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge homered for the fifth straight game in a win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in New York. File photo by John Angelillo/UPINew York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge homered for the fifth straight game in a win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in New York. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge homered for the fifth straight game in a win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in New York. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Catcher Will Smith and outfielder Andy Pages homered to help win the game. Dodgers starter Walker Buehler allowed five hits and one run over five innings.

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman rolled his right ankle in the game but is expected to be ready for the playoffs, which begin Tuesday with the Wild Card Series.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages hits a two-run homer for the Dagger in a win over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPILos Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages hits a two-run homer for the Dagger in a win over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages hits a two-run homer for the Dagger in a win over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

The Philadelphia Phillies (94-65) and Milwaukee Brewers (91-68) claimed other National League division titles, capturing the crowns in the East and Central divisions, respectively. The Padres (91-68), who trail the Dodgers (95-64) by four games, earned one of the three wild-card berths in the National League.

The New York Mets (87-70) and Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71) currently hold the other two wild card spots in the National League. The Atlanta Braves (86-71) are one game back in that race and are the only other National League team in contention.

Pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed just two hits in 6 2/3 shutout innings in a New York Yankees victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in New York. File photo by John Angelillo/UPIPitcher Gerrit Cole allowed just two hits in 6 2/3 shutout innings in a New York Yankees victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in New York. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Pitcher Gerrit Cole allowed just two hits in 6 2/3 shutout innings in a New York Yankees victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in New York. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In the American League, the Cleveland Guardians (92-67) and Houston Astros (86-73) earned the other two division winner finishes, with crowns in the Central and West divisions.

The Baltimore Orioles (88-71), who are five games behind the Yankees (93-65) in the East, are the only American League team to secure a wild-card slot.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone led the team to a 93-66 record with three games remaining in the regular season. File photo by John Angelillo/UPINew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone led the team to a 93-66 record with three games remaining in the regular season. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone led the team to a 93-66 record with three games remaining in the regular season. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI

The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals – both 85-74 – currently hold wild-card slots. The Minnesota Twins (82-77) are three games back in that race.

The Tigers will host the Chicago White Sox (39-120) – who are tied with the 1962 New York Mets for most losses in the modern MLB era – in their final three games of the season. They can clinch a wild card slot with another win or a Twins loss.

The Twins can only clinch a wild-card spot with a season-ending sweep of the Orioles and a White Sox sweep of the Tigers or Braves sweep of the Royals.

The Braves play a doubleheader against the Mets on Monday, the day after the last scheduled schedule of the MLB regular season. Those games were rescheduled due to Hurricane Helene.

The Braves and Mets each have a tiebreaker over the Diamondbacks for a playoff spot. The Mets must sweep the doubleheader to earn a tiebreaker against the Braves.

The Tigers and Royals could clinch a playoff spot as early as Friday. The Tigers will host the White Sox on Friday at 6:40 PM EDT in Detroit. The Braves host the Royals in Atlanta at 7:20 p.m.

The Brewers will host the Mets in Milwaukee at 8:10 p.m. The Diamondbacks face the Padres in Phoenix at 9:40 p.m.