MLB Magic Numbers 2026

MLB magic numbers for the 2026 postseason race: for every contender, the combination of its own wins and its rival’s losses that clinches the division, a playoff spot or a first-round bye, and the elimination number for teams on the outside. A magic number of zero means clinched. All figures are recomputed after every game from the full standings.

Divisions already clinched: Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central). Updated Sep 17, 2026 6:10 AM EDT.

AL Magic Numbers

Team	W-L	Left	Division	Playoff spot	Bye	E#
Tampa Bay RaysAL East · No. 1	92-59	11	7	0	0
Cleveland GuardiansAL Central · No. 2	78-75	9	10	9	9
Texas RangersAL West · No. 3	76-76	10	11	11	–
New York YankeesAL East · No. 4	88-64	10	7 back*	Clinched	n/a
Boston Red SoxAL East · No. 5	82-70	10	1 back*	5	n/a
Chicago White SoxAL Central · No. 6	77-75	10	10 back*	10	n/a
Houston AstrosAL West	76-76	10	11 back*	–	n/a	10
Toronto Blue JaysAL East	76-77	9	0 back*	–	n/a	9
Baltimore OriolesAL East	75-78	9	0 back*	–	n/a	8
Detroit TigersAL Central	72-80	10	5 back*	–	n/a	6
Minnesota TwinsAL Central	71-81	10	4 back*	–	n/a	5
Seattle MarinersAL West	71-82	9	5 back*	–	n/a	4
Kansas City RoyalsAL Central	67-85	10	0 back*	–	n/a	1

NL Magic Numbers

Team	W-L	Left	Division	Playoff spot	Bye	E#
Milwaukee BrewersNL Central · No. 1	95-57	10	Clinched	Clinched	4
Los Angeles DodgersNL West · No. 2	92-60	10	2	0	7
Atlanta BravesNL East · No. 3	89-64	9	6	1	–
Chicago CubsNL Central · No. 4	85-68	9	0 back*	5	n/a
Philadelphia PhilliesNL East · No. 5	84-68	10	6 back*	6	n/a
San Diego PadresNL West · No. 6	83-69	10	2 back*	7	n/a
Arizona DiamondbacksNL West	80-73	9	0 back*	–	n/a	7
Miami MarlinsNL East	76-77	9	0 back*	–	n/a	3
Pittsburgh PiratesNL Central	75-77	10	0 back*	–	n/a	3
St. Louis CardinalsNL Central	75-78	9	0 back*	–	n/a	2

Magic number = 162 + 1 – leader’s wins – chaser’s losses: any combination of that many wins by the leader and losses by the chaser clinches. Division: vs the second-placed team. Playoff spot: vs the first team outside the top 6. Bye: vs the third-best division leader. E# = elimination number from the last playoff spot. * Games a non-leader needs the leader to lose (plus its own wins) to catch up.

The MLB magic numbers above are recalculated after every game. For the race itself see the wild card standings; for what the seeds would produce, the projected bracket.