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 They aren’t listed on the standings at MLB.com, and anything you see on social media will quickly become out of date.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 26, 2026.
Milwaukee Brewers Magic Numbers
- To clinch a first-round bye: 0
- To clinch the NL Central: 0
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
The Brewers have won 100 games and in doing so, have locked up the best record in baseball this year and homefield throughout the postseason.
Los Angeles Dodgers Magic Numbers
- To clinch a first-round bye: 0
- To clinch the NL West: 0
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
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 have been able to do, as they are now locked into the No. 2 seed on the NL side of the bracket.
Atlanta Braves Magic Numbers
- To clinch the NL East: 0
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
The Braves locked up the NL East but were unable to catch the Brewers and the Dodgers, so they will host a Wild Card series next week as the No. 3 seed.
San Diego Padres Magic Number
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
The Padres are locked into the No. 4 seed and will host the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card round.
Chicago Cubs Magic Numbers
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
The Cubs are locked into the No. 5 seed as the second Wild Card.
Philadelphia Phillies Magic Numbers
- To clinch a playoff spot: 1
The Phillies picked a bad time to go on a four-game losing streak, and it has now kept the final Wild Card spot in play until the final game of the season. The D-backs had an opportunity to grab the spot from Philly last night, but lost to the Padres to keep the Phillies in a playoff spot.
Arizona owns the tiebreaker, but is still one game back, which makes the math pretty simple. The Phillies are in with a win, or a D-backs loss. Arizona needs the Phillies to lose and they need to win to clinch their spot via tiebreaker.
Arizona Diamondbacks Magic Number
- Tragic Number: 1
For now, the D-backs tragic number is tied to the Phillies 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 | 4-2 | 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 | 8-5 |
| Braves | 3-3 | 3-3 | 5-1 | — | 9-4 | 3-4 | 3-4 |
| Phillies | 2-4 | 1-6 | 2-4 | 4-9 | — | 3-3 | 6-0 |
| Diamondbacks | 2-4 | 2-4 | 7-6 | 4-3 | 3-3 | — | 6-6 |
| Padres | 4-2 | 1-5 | 5-8 | 4-3 | 0-6 | 6-6 | — |
American League Magic Numbers
Magic numbers as of games on September 26, 2026.
Tampa Bay Rays Magic Numbers
- To clinch a first-round bye: 0
- To clinch the AL East: 0
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
The Tampa Bay Rays have clinched the AL East, and in doing so, they have also clinched having the best record in the American League this season. They will be the No. 1 seed on the AL side of the bracket, locking in a first-round bye and homefield advantage until the World Series.
New York Yankees Magic Number
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
Now that the Rays have won the AL East, the Yankees are locked into the top Wild Card spot. They will host the Boston Red Sox in a three-game playoff series next week.
Boston Red Sox Magic Number
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
The Boston Red Sox are locked into the second Wild Card. They are set to square of with the Yankees in New York next week.
Cleveland Guardians Magic Number
- To clinch a first-round bye: 0
- To clinch the AL Central: 0
- To clinch a playoff spot: 0
With a win and a White Sox loss on Saturday, the Cleveland Guardians officially clinched the AL Central, their third-straight division title (fourth in five years). By winning the division, the Guardians have secured the No. 2 seed in the playoffs on the AL side of the bracket. This means they get a bye from the Wild Card round.
Chicago White Sox Magic Numbers
To clinch a playoff spot: 0
Now that the Guardians have clinched the division, the White Sox are now locked in as the No. 6 seed, grabbing the final Wild Card spot.
Houston Astros Magic Numbers
- To clinch the AL West: 1
- To clinch a playoff spot: 1
The Houston Astros’ path to the playoffs is pretty simple. Win the division. There will not be two playoff teams coming out of the AL West.
The Astros have the upper hand in the tiebreaker, crushing the Rangers 9-4 in their season series. If they win today, they are in. If the Rangers lose, they are in. This makes the math simple for the Rangers, who need to win and the Astros to lose to win the division and advance to the playoffs.
Texas Rangers Tragic Number
- Tragic Number: 1
The Rangers’ tragic number is presently tied to the Astros.
American League Head-to-Head Records for Tiebreakers
| TEAM | vs. TBR | vs. NYY | vs. BOS | vs. CHW | vs. HOU | vs. CLE | vs. TEX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rays | — | 7-6 | 7-6 | 4-2 | 4-2 | 5-1 | 4-3 |
| yankees | 6-7 | — | 7-6 | 4-3 | 3-3 | 4-2 | 4-2 |
| Red Sox | 6-7 | 6-7 | — | 6-0 | 1-5 | 3-3 | 3-3 |
| White sox | 2-4 | 3-4 | 0-6 | — | 2-5 | 7-6 | 4-2 |
| astros | 2-4 | 3-3 | 5-1 | 5-2 | — | 4-2 | 9-4 |
| Guardians | 1-5 | 2-4 | 3-3 | 6-7 | 2-4 | — | 2-4 |
| Rangers | 3-4 | 2-4 | 3-3 | 2-4 | 4-9 | 4-2 | — |
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