MLB magic numbers, tiebreakers: Dodgers ride Shohei Ohtani history to clinch; Guardians in (9/20/24)

— The Dodgers are back in the playoffs for the 12th year in a row, this time with a postseason virgin who does things nobody else can.

In a season two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani couldn't pitch, he made his first Dodgers' season extra special by Thursday in Miami by becoming the majors' first 50-50 player in a 20-4 win over the Marlins.

Ohtani became the first to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in a season during his best game ever, 6-for-6 with three home runs, 10 RBI and two stolen bases. He finished the day with 51 homers and 51 steals with nine games to go.

RESTORING THE GLORY

The Dodgers clinched a playoff berth even though the Braves, currently the first NL team out, still mathematically could pass them in wins.

Here's how:

If the Dodgers lose their remaining games and the Braves win out, LA would beat out the Mets for a wild card spot because this scenario would have New York being swept three games by Atlanta. This situation also would leave the Dodgers and Mets tied with 91 wins, and the Dodgers would get in because they have the tiebreaker.

Comprende?

Elsewhere ...

- The Guardians clinched a playoff spot and cut their magic number for winning the AL Central to three with a 3-2, 10-inning win over the Twins in Cleveland.

- The Twins' loss dropped them into a tie with the idle Tigers for the last AL wild card, but Minnesota holds the tiebreaker because it won the season series.

- Anthony Santander hit a two-run walk-off homer in a 5-3 Orioles win over the Giants that got them back to within four games of first place in the AL East when the Yankees lost to the Mariners 3-2 in Seattle.

- The Mariners gained ground in their chase for the last AL wild card, pulling to within two games of the Twins and Tigers.

- The Astros retained their five-game AL Central lead and cut their magic number for clinching playoffs and the division to six with a 3-1 home victory over the Angels.

- The Mets and Diamondbacks won to stay tied for the second and third NL wild cards and remain two games ahead of the Braves. In the opener of a four-game series at Citi Field between the top two NL East teams, the Mets also pulled to within six games of first with a 10-6 win over the division-leading Phillies. The Diamondbacks won 6-1 in Milwaukee and the Braves pounded the Reds 15-3 in Cincinnati.

- The Red Sox stayed four games out of the last AL wild-card spot with a 2-0 road loss to the Rays coupled with the Twins losing.

Here's a look at magic numbers plus tiebreakers and remaining schedules for the contenders through Thursday, Sept. 19, along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Sept. 20:

AL EASTNEW YORK YANKEES (89-63)Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Orioles by 5 games.

Tiebreakers: Yankees trail season series with Orioles 6-4; Yankees won season series with Guardians 4-2.

Magic number to clinch AL East:

Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched on Sept. 17.

Games remaining:

Yankees schedule:

Sept. 20-22: at Athletics (3)

Sept. 24-26: Orioles (3)

Sept. 27-29: Pirates (3)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (85-68)Standings: Second in AL East. Trail first-place Yankees by 5 games. First in AL wild-card standings. Lead Tigers by 4.5 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Orioles lead season series with Yankees 6-4; Orioles lost season series with Guardians 4-3; Orioles trail season series with Tigers 2-1; Orioles lead season series with Twins 3-0.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Games remaining:

Orioles schedule:

Sept. 20-22: Tigers (3)

Sept. 24-26: at Yankees (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Twins (3)

BOSTON RED SOX (76-77)Standings: Third in AL East. Trail first-place Yankees by 13 games. Sixth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Tigers and Twins by 4 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Red Sox trail season series with Twins 2-1; Red Sox won season series with Royals 4-2; Red Sox lost season series with Tigers 4-3.

Magic number for playoffs elimination:

Games remaining:

Red Sox schedule:

Sept. 20-22: Twins (3)

Sept. 23-25: at Blue Jays (3)

Sept. 27-29: Rays (3)

AL CENTRALCLEVELAND GUARDIANS (89-65)Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Royals by 6.5 games.

Tiebreakers: Guardians lost season series with Royals 8-5; Guardians won season series with Twins 10-3; Guardians lost season series with Yankees 4-2; Guardians won season series with Orioles 4-3; Guardians won season series with Tigers 7-6; Guardians won season series with Mariners 4-2.

Magic number to clinch AL Central:

Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 19.

Remaining games:

Guardians schedule:

Sept. 20-22: at Cardinals (3)

Sept. 24-25: Reds (2)

Sept. 27-29: Astros (3)

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (82-71)Standings: Second in AL Central. Trail first-place Guardians by 6.5 games. Second in AL wild-card standings. Lead Twins and Tigers by 2 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Royals lost season series with Twins 7-6; Royals won season series with Guardians 8-5; Mariners, Royals season series tied 3-3; Royals lost season series with Red Sox 4-2; Royals lead season series with Tigers 7-5.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Royals schedule:

Sept. 20-22: Giants (3)

Sept. 24-26: at Nationals (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Braves (3)

MINNESOTA TWINS (80-73)Standings: Tied with Tigers for third in AL Central. Trail first-place Guardians by 8.5 games. Tied with Tigers for third in AL wild-card standings.

Tiebreakers: Twins won season series with Royals 7-6; Twins won season series with Tigers 7-6; Twins won season series with Mariners 5-2; Twins lead season series with Red Sox 2-1; Twins lost series with Guardians 10-3.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Twins schedule:

Sept. 20-22: at Red Sox (3)

Sept. 24-26: Marlins (3)

Sept. 27-29: Orioles (3)

DETROIT TIGERS (80-73)Standings: Tied with Twins for third in AL Central. Trail first-place Guardians by 8.5 games. Tied with Twins for third in AL wild-card standings.

Tiebreakers: Tigers lost season series with Twins 7-6; Tigers trail season series with Royals 7-5; Tigers won season series with Mariners 5-1; Tigers won season series with Red Sox 4-3; Tigers lost season series with Yankees 4-2.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Tigers schedule:

Sept. 20-22: at Orioles (3)

Sept. 24-26: Rays (3)

Sept. 27-29: White Sox (3)

AL WESTHOUSTON ASTROS (83-70)Standings: First in AL West. Lead second-place Mariners by 5 games.

Tiebreakers: Astros trail season series with Mariners 6-4.

Magic number to clinch AL West:

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Astros schedule:

Sept. 20-22: Angels (3)

Sept. 23-25: Mariners (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Guardians (3)

SEATTLE MARINERS (78-75)Standings: Second in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 5 games. Fifth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Twins and Tigers by 2 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Mariners lead season series with Astros 6-4; Mariners lost season series with Twins 5-2; Royals, Mariners season series tied 3-3; Mariners lost season series with Tigers 5-1.

Magic number for playoffs elimination:

Remaining games:

Mariners schedule:

Sept. 20-22: at Rangers (3)

Sept. 23-25: at Astros (3)

Sept. 27-29: Athletics (3)

NL EAST (91-62)Standings: First in NL East. Lead second place Mets by 6 games.

Tiebreakers: Phillies won season series with Dodgers 5-1; Phillies won season series with Brewers 4-2; Phillies lead season series with Mets 6-4; Phillies lost season series with Braves 7-6.

Magic number to clinch NL East:

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Phillies schedule:

Sept. 20-22: at Mets (3)

Sept. 23-24: Cubs (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Nationals (3)

NEW YORK METS (85-68)Standings: Second in NL East. Trail first-place Phillies by 6 games. Tied with Diamondbacks for second in NL wild-card standings. Lead Braves by 2 games for third NL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Mets, Braves, season series tied 5-5; Mets won season series with D'backs 4-3; Mets won season series with Padres 5-1; Mets trail season series with Phillies 6-4; Mets lost season series with Dodgers 4-2.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Mets schedule:

Sept. 20-22: Phillies (3)

Sept. 24-26: at Braves (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Brewers (3)

ATLANTA BRAVES (83-70)Standings: Third in NL East. Trail first-place Phillies by 8 games. Fourth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Mets and Diamondbacks by 2 games for second and third NL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Braves, Mets season series tied 5-5; Braves won season series with Diamondbacks 5-2; Braves lost season series with Padres 4-3; Braves won season series with Mets 7-6.

Magic number for playoffs elimination:

Remaining games:

Braves schedule:

Sept. 20-22: at Marlins (3)

Sept. 24-26: Mets (3)

Sept. 27-29: Royals (3)

NL CENTRALMILWAUKEE BREWERS (88-65)Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 10 games.

Tiebreakers: Brewers lost season series with Dodgers 4-3; Brewers lost season series with Phillies 4-2.

Magic number to clinch NL Central: Clinched on Sept. 18.

Remaining games:

Brewers schedule:

Sept. 20-22: Diamondbacks (3)

Sept. 24-26: at Pirates (3)

Sept. 27-29: Mets (3)

NL WESTLOS ANGELES DODGERS (91-62)Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Padres by 4 games.

Tiebreakers: Dodgers trail season series with Padres 7-3; Dodgers won season series with Diamondbacks 7-6; Dodgers lost season series with Phillies 5-1; Dodgers won season series with Brewers 4-3.

Magic number to clinch NL West:

Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 19.

Remaining games:

Dodgers schedule:

Sept. 20-22: Rockies (3)

Sept. 24-26: Padres (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Rockies (3)

SAN DIEGO PADRES (87-66)Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 4 games. First in NL wild-card standings. Lead Diamondbacks by 2 games for first NL wild card. Lead Braves by 4 games for second and third NL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Padres, Diamondbacks, season series tied 5-5; Padres lead season series with Dodgers 7-3; Padres won season series with Braves 4-3; Padres lost season series with Mets 5-1.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Padres schedule:

Sept. 20-22: White Sox (3)

Sept. 24-26: at Dodgers (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Diamondbacks (3)

(85-68)Standings: Third in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 6 games. Tied with Mets for second and third NL wild cards. Lead Braves by 2 games for second and third NL wild card.

Tiebreakers: D'backs, Padres season series tied 5-5; D'backs lost season series with Dodgers 7-6; D'backs lost season series with Braves 5-2; D'backs lost season series with Mets 4-3.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Diamondbacks schedule:

Sept. 20-22: at Brewers (3)

Sept. 23-25: Giants (3)

Sept. 27-29: Padres (3)

AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3) Yankees (1), Guardians (2) byes

Twins (6) at Astros (3)

Royals (5) at Orioles (4)

NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3) Phillies (1), Dodgers (2) byes

Diamondbacks (6) at Brewers (3)

Mets (5) at Padres (4)