The MLB postseason is almost here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to win a third straight World Series.

It is still unclear how much some of the game's biggest stars will play in October.

The Dodgers are again one of the best teams in baseball.

Their challengers include the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays.

All three teams could finish the regular season with 100 wins or more.

Los Angeles is playing well even though Shohei Ohtani's health is a concern.

Ohtani is a four-time MVP.

The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves have also clinched postseason spots.

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has a right calf strain.

Judge is a three-time AL MVP.

He will stay on the injured list until at least the final day of the regular season this Sunday.

The 12-team playoff field looks mostly set.

However, a few long-shot contenders remain and specific matchups are still in flux.

In the AL, the Toronto Blue Jays lost 4-3 in Baltimore on Monday.

The Blue Jays fell 3 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox for the final AL wild card.

Baltimore is 4 1/2 games back.

Both teams can be eliminated as soon as Tuesday.

Weak play in the AL Central and West has created close pennant races.

It could let a sub-.500 team reach the postseason.

The Cleveland Guardians (81-75) lead the Chicago White Sox (80-76) in the Central.

The Texas Rangers (78-78) are just ahead of the Houston Astros (77-79) in the West.

In the NL, the playoff bracket is nearly set.

The Chicago Cubs (87-69), San Diego Padres (87-69) and Philadelphia Phillies (86-70) are competing for wild-card position.

They will almost certainly make the postseason.

The Arizona Diamondbacks (82-74) are four games back.

MLB's major awards likely won't have much drama.

Chicago's Pete Crow-Armstrong is the clear NL MVP favorite.

Houston's Yordan Alvarez is the probable AL choice, though Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero has also had a great season.

Alvarez still has a shot at a rare Triple Crown.

For Cy Young, Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski and New York's Cam Schlittler are the NL and AL favorites.

Cincinnati's Sal Stewart leads the NL Rookie of the Year race, and Detroit's Kevin McGonigle is the AL favorite.