what does clinched mean in baseball

In baseball, "clinched" means that a team has secured a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. This happens when the team's current win/loss record is good enough that no other rival team can surpass them in the standings, even if the clinching team loses all their remaining games. Teams can clinch a playoff berth by securing the best record in their division or by earning a wild card spot, which is reserved for the best teams that did not win their division. Clinching ensures the team will participate in the postseason, regardless of the outcomes of the remaining regular season games.