What happened: Tampa Bay secured the division on Sept. 23, closing the AL East race in the final week of the regular season. The clinch follows Sept. 20, when the magic number sat at two.

Why it matters: The title locks Tampa Bay into the division-winner bracket for October, clear of the Wild Card scramble. Settling the race early lets Tampa Bay align its rotation and rest plan before the final weekend.

What to watch: Watch seeding order and the Division Series matchup once the bracket finalizes.