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MLB Magic Number tracker: Complete playoff picture (UPDATED Sep. 18)

Noah Yingling

Fansided

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 09: Austin Riley #27 celebrates with Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves after a two-run home run against the Washington Nationals in the first inning at Truist Park on July 9, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images)

Aaron Judge, MLB, Yankees, AL MVP
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees watches his fourth inning home run against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on September 07, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

After a weekend with multiple head-to-head matchups between playoff contenders, many of the Magic Numbers have dwindled down and one team has already secured their postseason spot.

This past weekend featured a number of head-to-head matchups between teams that will or are likely to make the MLB playoffs. The Los Angeles Dodgers saw their playoff-clinching magic number hit zero … and then bounce back up to one (due to an MLB error).

Many other teams are close to clinching a playoff berth here very soon. As of Monday, September 12, here is what the playoff picture looks like in the American League.

  • American League East: New York Yankees (+4.5 games)
  • American League Central: Cleveland Guardians (+4.5 games)
  • American League West: Houston Astros (+14 games)

Here is what the AL Wild Card picture looks like

  • AL Wild Card No. 1: Toronto Blue Jays (+2 games)
  • AL Wild Card No. 2: Tampa Bay Rays (+.5 games)
  • AL Wild Card No. 3: Seattle Mariners

After this weekend, the teams on the outside looking in for the Wild Card have a mountain to climb to reach the Wild Card.

  • Baltimore Orioles (-5 games)
  • Chicago White Sox (-6 games)
  • Minnesota Twins (-8.5 games)

Fortunately for the White Sox and Twins, they still have a shot at winning the AL Central.

Here is the NL playoff picture.

  • National League East: New York Mets (+1 game)
  • National League Central: St. Louis Cardinals (+8.0 games)
  • National League West: Los Angeles Dodgers (+21 games)
  • NL Wild Card No. 1: Atlanta Braves (+10.5 games)
  • NL Wild Card No. 2: Philadelphia Phillies (+.5 games)
  • NL Wild Card No. 3: San Diego Padres
  • Only remaining NL team within 9 games of the Wild Card: Milwaukee Brewers (-1.5 games)

MLB playoff picture: What is a magic number?

Each MLB team has a “magic number” for the playoffs. It is the number of games needed until a team clinches a playoff spot or their division. For each win the team has, one number is knocked off. For each loss that their opponent in the Wild Card and/or division has, one number is also knocked off. Two numbers would be knocked off if, for example, a first-place team wins and the second-place team loses.

In American League, here are the magic numbers for each team involved in the playoff hunt.

Alex Bregman, MLB
HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 11: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros reacts in the dugout after hitting a grand slam in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park on September 11, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

MLB magic number tracker

New York Yankees magic number

Magic number to clinch AL East: 13

Magic number to clinch playoffs: 7

Rays magic number

Magic number to clinch playoffs: 13.

Blue Jays magic number

Magic number to clinch playoffs: 11.

Guardians magic number

Magic number to clinch AL Central: 13

Astros magic number

Magic number to clinch AL West: 4

Mariners magic number

Mariners Magic number to clinch playoffs: 14

The other teams in the playoff hunt

The White Sox, Twins, and Orioles do not have a magic number since they are not in a spot where they control their own destiny.

Max Scherzer, Mets, MLB
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Max Scherzer #21 of the New York Mets in action against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on September 03, 2022 in New York City. The Nationals defeated the Mets 7-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

New York Mets magic number

Magic number to clinch NL East: 16

Magic number to clinch playoffs: 4

Braves magic number

Magic number to clinch playoffs: 6

Phillies magic number

Magic number to clinch playoffs: 16.

Cardinals magic number

Magic number to clinch NL Central: 19

Dodgers magic number

Magic number to win NL West: 0 (CLINCHED)

Padres magic number

Magic number to clinch playoffs: 16

The remaining teams that could make the NL playoffs

The only team in the National League that has more than 0.0 percent chance making it is the Milwaukee Brewers.

Noah Yingling

Graduate from Bowling Green State University with majors in Media Production and Studies and U.S. and European History. Sandusky, Ohio native and grew up as a fan of the team that was the then-named Cleveland Indians. 24 years old, 80's and 90's TV nerd, baseball nerd (obviously), 70's and 80's music nerd.