PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The Philadelphia Phillies are getting closer to their first National League East title since 2011.
Tuesday night’s win over the Milwaukee Brewers reduced their magic number to four.
ESPN reports that the magic number the team needs to reach to simply make the postseason is two ahead of Wednesday night’s game that will end the series against the Brewers.
Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies is congratulated by Nick Castellanos after hitting a two-run home run in Milwaukee, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024.
AP Photo/Morry Gash
Who can secure a place in the playoffs next?
The Brewers’ magic number is one, they can secure a playoff spot and the NL Central with a win or a loss by the Cubs on Wednesday. The Phillies’ magic number for a playoff spot is two and four to secure the NL East. The
The Dodgers’ magic number is three to secure a playoff spot and eight to win the NL West.
The New York Yankees have the magic number of one and can secure the AL’s first postseason spot with a win on Wednesday. The Cleveland Guardians’ magic number is two to secure a playoff spot and six to secure the AL Central.
Tiebreaker
If LA and Philadelphia have the best records, the Phillies would finish first due to their better head-to-head record with the Dodgers this season.
The head-to-head matchup of the season would determine first place in the AL if Cleveland finished the season with the best record in the league and the champion of the AL East: Guardians vs. Orioles; Yankees vs. Guardians.
If the Yankees, Orioles and Guardians all finish with the same record, Baltimore would finish first in the AL based on the three teams’ records within the division.
If Baltimore and New York end up playing in a tie, the Orioles currently hold the AL East tiebreaker as they lead the Yankees 6-4 in the head-to-head season series (with three games remaining).
If Atlanta and New York tie, the Mets currently hold the last NL playoff spot because they have the better record within the division, as the teams are tied 5-5 in the season series with three games remaining.
Analysis of the NL race
Four teams have moved to the top of the NL table: The Atlanta Braves, the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks are fighting for the last playoff spot.
The Phillies and Brewers are seemingly effortlessly heading toward the division title.
The Dodgers have gained a lead in the race for the NL West and the Padres will also most likely move into the postseason together with LA.
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