2026 Magic Number Tracker: Counting Down to the MLB Playoffs
Breaking down the magic (and tragic) numbers for every team in the NL and AL postseason races.
A magic number represents the number of games a team needs to win – or their closest opponent needs to lose – for that team to clinch a playoff spot, a division title, a first-round bye, or home-field advantage in any given postseason series.
Tracking your favorite team’s magic numbers is a nice and easy way to follow their postseason chase down the stretch. If their magic number is still in the double digits with less than two weeks remaining in the season, you know it’s going to be a close race.
On the other hand, once their magic number gets down to one or two, it’s time to start preparing for a champagne celebration.
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find magic numbers. They aren’t listed on the standings at MLB.com, and anything you see on social media will quickly become out of date.
With that in mind, Just Baseball has put together this simple Magic Number Tracker that we’ll update every weekday for the rest of the regular season. We’ve got you covered.
It is important to note that we are not tracking the magic or tragic numbers for the Marlins, Cardinals or Pirates right now in the National League, as each team is at least five games out of the race right now. If any of them make a push, we will add them to the tracker.
On the American League side, we have set the cutoff at three games out for now, because the field is so crowded at the moment.
Note: The tiebreaking rules introduced in the latest CBA can sometimes complicate magic numbers. If something seems off, it’s likely due to the various effects of multi-way ties and tiebreakers.
See below for tables with the head-to-head records of all contending teams in the NL and AL.
National League Magic Numbers
Magic numbers as of games on September 16, 2026.
Milwaukee Brewers Magic Numbers
- To clinch a first-round bye: 4
- To clinch the NL Central: 0
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
With their win last night, along with the Cubs loss, the Milwaukee Brewers officially clinched their fourth-straight NL Central title. All that is left for the Brewers to lock up a bye in the first-round in the playoffs, and to lock up homefield advantage through the playoffs.
Los Angeles Dodgers Magic Numbers
- To clinch a first-round bye: 7
- To clinch the NL West: 1
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
Sitting with a comfortable lead in the NL West over the Padres and D-Backs, the Los Angeles Dodgers are really competing against the Braves and the Brewers at this stage, looking for that first-round bye to avoid another trip back to the Wild Card round.
The Dodgers had no problem sweeping the Reds in the Wild Card last year, but no one wants any part of the randomness of a three-game series if they can avoid it. Which is what the Dodgers are looking to do.
Atlanta Braves Magic Numbers
- To clinch the NL East: 5
- To clinch a playoff spot: 1
The Braves have the season series tiebreaker over the Phillies, and are sitting with a comfortable lead in the division. It is only a matter of time before they lock up the NL East. They still have their work cut out for them though if they want to avoid playing in the Wild Card round as they are trailing the Brewers and the Dodgers in the standings.
Chicago Cubs Magic Numbers
- To clinch a playoff spot: 4
The Cubs are unlikely to catch the Brewers in the NL Central, but you know Pete Crow-Armstrong and company want to bring the Wild Card to Chicago and ensure that Wrigley hosts some playoff games this October.
Philadelphia Phillies Magic Numbers
- To clinch a playoff spot: 6
The Phillies have a team they can chase in the NL East, and if they stay close, they will cruise into one of the Wild Card spots. It certainly feels like the Phillies and Cubs are spiraling towards a grudge match as the top two Wild Card teams. When it gets closer to the finish, home-field advantage in the Wild Card could keep these teams engaged, even when their playoff spots are secured.
San Diego Padres Magic Number
- To clinch a playoff spot: 7
The Padres have opened up a slight lead in the Wild Card race over the D-backs, but their margin for error is still thin. These two teams are spiraling towards a grudge match to close out their season, as their season series hangs in the balance having split the first 10 games.
Arizona Diamondbacks Magic Number
- Tragic Number: 7
For now, the D-backs tragic number is tied to the Padres magic number.
National League Head-to-Head Records for Tiebreakers
| TEAM | vs. MIL | vs. CHC | vs. LAD | vs. ATL | vs. PHI | vs. ARI | vs. SDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewers | — | 9-4 | 4-3 | 3-3 | 2-1 | 4-2 | 2-4 |
| Cubs | 4-9 | — | 4-2 | 3-3 | 6-1 | 4-2 | 5-1 |
| Dodgers | 3-4 | 2-4 | — | 1-5 | 4-2 | 6-7 | 7-3 |
| Braves | 3-3 | 3-3 | 5-1 | — | 9-4 | 3-4 | 3-4 |
| Phillies | 1-2 | 1-6 | 2-4 | 4-9 | — | 3-3 | 6-0 |
| Diamondbacks | 2-4 | 2-4 | 7-6 | 4-3 | 3-3 | — | 5-5 |
| Padres | 4-2 | 1-5 | 3-7 | 4-3 | 0-6 | 5-5 | — |
American League Magic Numbers
Magic numbers as of games on September 16, 2026.
Tampa Bay Rays Magic Numbers
- To clinch a first-round bye: 0 (winner of the AL East will have a first round bye)
- To clinch the AL East: 7
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
Based on the imbalance of power in the American League, the Rays are in position to clinch a first-round bye long before they clinch their division. Holding off the Yankees and the Red Sox will be a bit of a tougher task for the Rays, especially since they haven’t won the season series against either yet, and they each still have one more head-to-head.
New York Yankees Magic Number
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
The New York Yankees have their sights set on running down the Tampa Bay Rays, because winning the AL East would provide a significantly better path through October. Second and third place in the AL East is all but guaranteed to be the top two seeds in the Wild Card race, which right now sets us up for a Yankees-Red Sox head-to-head in round 1.
Boston Red Sox Magic Number
- To clinch a playoff spot: 5
The Boston Red Sox are currently playing the Rangers in a very important series for Texas, and last night they lost their second-straight against them. The Rangers are the first team out of the Wild Card right now, and their season series with the Red Sox hangs in the balance.
Cleveland Guardians Magic Number
- To clinch a first-round bye: 9
- To clinch the AL Central: 10
- To clinch a playoff spot: 9
The Cleveland Guardians lost the first game of their series against the Chicago White Sox earlier this week, and in turn, they lost the season series tiebreaker. But Cleveland would get the last laugh, as they went on to take the final two games of the series and have now moved past Chicago in the standings.
Chicago White Sox Magic Numbers
- To clinch a playoff spot: 9
If the White Sox win the AL Central, and if they finish ahead of the winner of the AL West, Chicago will get a first-round playoff bye. They would also be set up to host the winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed matchup, which would be the AL West winner, vs. the final Wild Card team.
By beating the Guardians on Monday night, the White Sox secured a season series win, and the tiebreaker over Cleveland. In turn, their Magic Number to clinch the division was sliced down by three, one for their win, one for the Guardians loss, and one for securing the tiebreaker.
Houston Astros Magic Numbers
- To clinch the AL West: 10
- To clinch a playoff spot: 10
The Houston Astros’ path to the playoffs is pretty simple. Win the division. There is no guarantee that two playoff teams are coming out of the AL West.
The Astro have the upper hand in the tiebreaker, crushing the Rangers 9-4 in their season series. But Texas has evened things up in the standings with a few wins this week.
Texas Rangers Tragic Number
- Tragic Number: 10
The Rangers’ tragic number is presently tied to the Astros.
Toronto Blue Jays Magic Number
- Tragic Number: 9
At the moment, the Blue Jays’ tragic number is tied to the White Sox, who have a 1.5 game lead, ahead of them in the Wild Card race.
Baltimore Orioles Tragic Number
- Tragic Number: 7
The Orioles tragic number is tied to the White Sox, and since they won their season series to them, Baltimore holds the tiebreaker.
American League Head-to-Head Records for Tiebreakers
| TEAM | vs. TBR | vs. NYY | vs. BOS | vs. CHW | vs. HOU | vs. CLE | vs. TOR | vs. TEX | vs. BAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rays | — | 6-3 | 5-5 | 4-2 | 4-2 | 5-1 | 9-4 | 4-3 | 5-8 |
| yankees | 3-6 | — | 7-6 | 4-3 | 3-3 | 4-2 | 7-6 | 4-2 | 8-2 |
| Red Sox | 5-5 | 6-7 | — | 6-0 | 1-5 | 2-1 | 4-9 | 2-3 | 9-4 |
| White sox | 2-4 | 3-4 | 0-6 | — | 2-5 | 7-6 | 5-1 | 4-2 | 2-4 |
| astros | 2-4 | 3-3 | 5-1 | 5-2 | — | 4-2 | 3-3 | 9-4 | 1-5 |
| Guardians | 1-5 | 2-4 | 1-2 | 6-7 | 2-4 | — | 2-4 | 2-4 | 4-3 |
| Blue Jays | 4-9 | 6-7 | 9-4 | 1-5 | 3-3 | 4-2 | — | 0-4 | 6-4 |
| Rangers | 3-4 | 2-4 | 3-2 | 2-4 | 4-9 | 4-2 | 4-0 | — | 4-2 |
| Orioles | 8-5 | 2-8 | 4-9 | 4-2 | 5-1 | 3-4 | 4-6 | 2-4 | — |
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