With the 2012 season winding down, the Atlanta Braves continue to lead the National League's Wild Card race, six games clear of the St. Louis Cardinals, who occupy the league's second Wild Card slot.
With two Wild Card spots available for the first time, the Braves are 8.5 games ahead of the line for a playoff spot with 12 games remaining on Atlanta's schedule. In the NL East race, the Braves are 5.5 games back of the Washington Nationals, who clinched a playoff spot with their victory on Thursday night.
Here are the NL East standings:
| W | L | Pct | GB | Streak | |
| Washington Nationals | 91 | 58 | .611 | -- | Won 1 |
| Atlanta Braves | 86 | 64 | .573 | 5.5 | Won 1 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 76 | 74 | .507 | 15.5 | Won 3 |
| New York Mets | 66 | 83 | .443 | 25 | Lost 5 |
| Miami Marlins | 66 | 84 | .440 | 25.5 | Lost 1 |
And the Wild Card standings:
| W | L | Pct | GB | Streak | |
| Atlanta Braves | 86 | 64 | .573 | -- | Won 1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 80 | 70 | .533 | -- | Won 4 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 77 | 72 | .517 | 2.5 | Won 5 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 77 | 73 | .513 | 3 | Lost 1 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 76 | 74 | .507 | 4 | Won 3 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 74 | 75 | .497 | 5.5 | Lost 3 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 74 | 75 | .497 | 5.5 | Lost 1 |
| San Diego Padres | 72 | 78 | .480 | 8 | Won 1 |
| New York Mets | 66 | 83 | .443 | 13.5 | Lost 5 |
| Miami Marlins | 66 | 84 | .440 | 14 | Lost 1 |
| Colorado Rockies | 58 | 91 | .389 | 21.5 | Lost 6 |
| Chicago Cubs | 58 | 92 | .387 | 22 | Lost 4 |
| Houston Astros | 48 | 102 | .320 | 32 | Lost 3 |
Check out the full MLB playoff picture and standings here.
For more Braves coverage, check out Talking Chop.