MLB magic numbers, tiebreakers: Phillies clinch, but don’t celebrate; Twins pass Tigers (9/21/24)

OAKLAND, Calif. — When the Yankees sewed up a playoff spot in Seattle this week after missing the postseason last year, they probably sprayed 1,000 bobbles of champagne and beer on each other in a wild clubhouse celebration that lasted about an hour.

That's now how the Phillies celebrated Friday night after they clinched going to the playoffs for the third year in a row.

All they did after hammering the Mets 12-2 at Citi Field was shake hands on the field.

The bubbly will be out though when the Phils win the NL East for the first time since 2011, and that will occur if they beat the Mets again on Saturday or Sunday.

RESTORING THE GLORY

- The Twins broke out a tie with the Tigers for the last AL wild card by besting the Red Sox 4-2 in 12 innings. Detroit lost on the road 7-1 to the Orioles, who moved to four games ahead of the Royals for the first AL wild card and remained four games behind the Yankees for first in the AL East.

- The Yankees cut their magic number for winning their division to five with a 4-2, 10-inning win in Oakland.

- Shohei Ohtani hit homer No. 52 and stole his 52nd base in a 6-4 Dodgers win over the Rockies at Dodger Stadium that has their magic number at five for clinching the NL West.

- The Padres' magic number for clinching an NL wild card is at three after a 3-2, 10-inning win over the White Sox.

- The AL West-leading Astros got past the Angels 9-3 in Houston to stay five games up on the second-place Mariners, who remained two games behind the Twins for the last AL wild card.

Here's a look at magic numbers plus tiebreakers and remaining schedules for the contenders through Friday, Sept. 20, along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Sept. 21:

AL EASTNEW YORK YANKEES (90-63)Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Orioles by 4 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. 21-22: at Athletics (2)

Sept. 24-26: Orioles (3)

Sept. 27-29: Pirates (3)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (86-68)Standings: Second in AL East. Trail first-place Yankees by 4 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, Tigers season series tied 2-2; Orioles lead season series with Twins 3-0.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Games remaining:

Orioles schedule:

Sept. 21-22: Tigers (2)

Sept. 24-26: at Yankees (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Twins (3)

BOSTON RED SOX (76-78)Standings: Third in AL East. Trail first-place Yankees by 13 games. Sixth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Twins by 5 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Red Sox trail season series with Twins 3-1; 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. 21-22: Twins (2)

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

Sept. 27-29: Rays (3)

AL CENTRALCLEVELAND GUARDIANS (90-65)Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Royals by 7.5 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. 21-22: at Cardinals (2)

Sept. 24-25: Reds (2)

Sept. 27-29: Astros (3)

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (82-72)Standings: Second in AL Central. Trail first-place Guardians by 7.5 games. Second in AL wild-card standings. Lead Twins by 1 game for second AL wild card. Lead 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 won season series with Tigers 7-6.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Royals schedule:

Sept. 21-22: Giants (2)

Sept. 24-26: at Nationals (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Braves (3)

MINNESOTA TWINS (81-73)Standings: Tied with Tigers for third in AL Central. Trail first-place Guardians by 8.5 games. Third in AL wild-card standings. Lead Tigers by 1 game for third AL wild card.

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 3-1; Twins lost series with Guardians 10-3.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Twins schedule:

Sept. 21-22: at Red Sox (2)

Sept. 24-26: Marlins (3)

Sept. 27-29: Orioles (3)

DETROIT TIGERS (80-74)Standings: Tied with Twins for third in AL Central. Trail first-place Guardians by 9.5 games. Fourth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Twins by 1 game for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Tigers lost season series with Twins 7-6; Tigers lost series with Royals 7-6; 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; Tigers, Orioles season series tied 2-2.

Magic number for playoffs elimination:

Remaining games:

Tigers schedule:

Sept. 21-22: at Orioles (2)

Sept. 24-26: Rays (3)

Sept. 27-29: White Sox (3)

AL WESTHOUSTON ASTROS (84-70)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. 21-22: Angels (2)

Sept. 23-25: Mariners (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Guardians (3)

SEATTLE MARINERS (79-75)Standings: Second in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 5 games. Fifth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Twins 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. 21-22: at Rangers (2)

Sept. 23-25: at Astros (3)

Sept. 27-29: Athletics (3)

NL EAST (92-62)Standings: First in NL East. Lead second place Mets by 7 games.

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

Magic number to clinch NL East:

Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 20.

Remaining games:

Phillies schedule:

Sept. 21-22: at Mets (2)

Sept. 23-24: Cubs (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Nationals (3)

NEW YORK METS (85-69)Standings: Second in NL East. Trail first-place Phillies by 7 games. Third 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 7-4; Mets lost season series with Dodgers 4-2.

Magic number to clinch playoffs:

Remaining games:

Mets schedule:

Sept. 21-22: Phillies (2)

Sept. 24-26: at Braves (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Brewers (3)

ATLANTA BRAVES (83-71)Standings: Third in NL East. Trail first-place Phillies by 9 games. Fourth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Mets 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. 21-22: at Marlins (2)

Sept. 24-26: Mets (3)

Sept. 27-29: Royals (3)

NL CENTRALMILWAUKEE BREWERS (88-66)Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 9 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. 21-22: Diamondbacks (2)

Sept. 24-26: at Pirates (3)

Sept. 27-29: Mets (3)

NL WESTLOS ANGELES DODGERS (92-62)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. 21-22: Rockies (2)

Sept. 24-26: Padres (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Rockies (3)

SAN DIEGO PADRES (88-66)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 5 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. 21-22: White Sox (2)

Sept. 24-26: at Dodgers (3)

Sept. 27-29: at Diamondbacks (3)

(86-68)Standings: Third in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 6 games. Second in NL wild-card standings. Leads Mets by 1 game for second NL wild card. Lead Braves by 2 games for 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. 21-22: at Brewers (2)

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

Mets (6) at Brewers (3)

Diamondbacks (5) at Padres (4)