Luis Arraez sat at his locker Sunday afternoon as he scrolled through his phone when he came across an MLB-related social media account celebrating the Phillies clinching a spot in the NL’s postseason field. He looked up at the reporter standing nearby and displayed the photo.

The Brewers had already clinched the first spot in the NL.

Arraez wondered aloud if a good week in New York would lock up the Padres’ spot.

Not likely, but perhaps sometime this weekend in Chicago.

Taking three of four against the Rockies over the weekend improved the Padres’ lead to five games over the Mets, the NL’s current third wild-card and more importantly their lead over the Giants — the closest team on the outside looking in — to 6½ games with 12 left on the schedule.

The Padres can also still catch Cubs, who have a 3½-game hold on the NL’s top wild-card spot, and have an even better shot of closing the Dodgers’ 2½-game lead in the NL West.

But one thing at a time, and that begins Tuesday at Citi Field after the off-day.

“Can’t wait,” Padres designated hitter Gavin Sheets said. “ … It’s going to be a hostile environment, great environment for baseball and two teams that are going to try to collect as many wins as possible. We’re in a sprint right now. It’s what September baseball is all about.”

 

1   |   Milwaukee Brewers (91-59, Last week: 1)

The first team to clinch a postseason spot, the Brewers begin the penultimate week of the season with a 5½-game cushion on the Cubs in the NL Central.

2   |   Philadelphia Phillies (89-61, LW: 2)

With a 12-game lead on the Mets in the NL East, the Phillies’ magic number to clinch the division is down to 1 with two weeks left in the season and they are just two wins behind the Brewers in the race for home-field advantage in the NL.

3   |   Toronto Blue Jays (87-62, LW: 6)

Only the Phillies (51) have more wins at home than the Blue Jays (50), who have a four-game lead on the Yankees in the AL East and a two-game lead on the Tigers in the race for the AL’s No. 1 seed.

4  |   Chicago Cubs (85-64, LW: 4)

The Cubs have two weeks to get Kyle Tucker (left calf tightness) back in the lineup and back up to speed for the postseason.

5   |   New York Yankees (83-66, LW: 3)

Already? Aaron Judge’s 362 homers have passed Joe DiMaggio, placing him fourth in Yankees history, behind Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536) and Lou Gehrig (493).

6   |   Los Angeles Dodgers (84-65, LW: 8)

Now it’s Will Smith’s turn to take a seat on the IL with a bone bruise in his right hand as baseball’s richest team can’t buy a break when it comes to injuries.

7   |   Detroit Tigers (85-65, LW: 5)

Whew: Tarik Skubal exited his start on Friday with side tightness, but all checked out OK and he’s expected to make his next start.

8   |   Boston Red Sox (82-68, LW: 7)

Garrett Crochet won a must-win game on Sunday and is delivering for the Red Sox in September, adding a strong narrative to very-worthy AL Cy Young credentials (16-5, 2.63 ERA).

9   |   Seattle Mariners (82-68, LW: 13)

Catching on: Cal Raleigh’s 43rd homer as a catcher on Sunday passed Javy Lopez’s record for the position (2003), while his 54th for the whole season tied Mickey Mantle (1961) for the most as a switch-hitter.

10   |   San Diego Padres (82-68, LW: 9)

Taking care of business: The Padres scored nine runs on Sunday in improving to 10-3 this year against the Rockies. Their 95 runs against the 109-loss Rockies are the most by any team against one opponent this season.

 

The rest

  • 11   |   Texas Rangers (79-71, LW: 12)
  • 12   |   Houston Astros (81-69, LW: 11)
  • 13   |   Cleveland Guardians (78-71, LW: 19)
  • 14   |   New York Mets (77-73, LW: 10)
  • 15   |   San Francisco Giants (75-74, LW: 16)
  • 17   |   Cincinnati Reds (74-75, LW: 15)
  • 17   |   Arizona Diamondbacks (75-75, LW: 18)
  • 18   |   Kansas City Royals (75-75, LW: 17)
  • 19   |   Tampa Bay Rays (73-76, LW: 14)
  • 20   |   St. Louis Cardinals (73-77, LW: 20)
  • 21   |   Sacramento Athletics (70-80, LW: 23)
  • 22   |   Baltimore Orioles (69-80, LW: 22)
  • 23   |   Miami Marlins (70-80, LW: 25)
  • 24   |   Atlanta Braves (66-83, LW: 21)
  • 25   |   Los Angeles Angels (69-81, LW: 24)
  • 26   |   Pittsburgh Pirates (65-85, LW: 26)
  • 27   |   Minnesota Twins (65-84, LW: 27)
  • 28   |   Chicago White Sox (57-93, LW: 28)
  • 29   |   Washington Nationals (62-87, LW: 29)
  • 30   |   Colorado Rockies (41-109, LW: 30)