Philadelphia Phillies Cut Playoff Magic Number Entering Mets Series

There's a chance the Philadelphia Phillies could clinch their playoff berth this weekend against the New York Mets.

The Philadelphia Phillies have trimmed their magic number to just six to clinch a playoff berth after defeating the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

As the Phillies head home to begin a four-game series with the New York Mets on Thursday, it's possible that the Phillies could clinch both a playoff berth and their Wild Card seed by the end of the weekend.

Their win, combined with a loss by the Chicago Cubs, boosted their lead in the race to 4.0 games, and 2.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

With four games separating them from the final Wild Card berth, it appears to be only a matter of time before the Phillies clinch what they need to guarantee themselves a home Wild Card series.

Below is an update on the race, with the current standings, magic numbers to clinch a Wild Card berth and the remaining schedules for the teams that are still in the race.

The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 21

Wednesday’s Results

Philadelphia 6, Atlanta 5

Minnesota 5, Cincinnati 3

New York Mets 8, Miami 3

Pittsburgh 13, Chicago Cubs 7

Arizona 7, San Francisco 1

Standings

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (83-69): +4.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 6)

Arizona (81-72): — +1.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 8)

Chicago Cubs (79-73): — (Magic Number to clinch: 10)

Miami (79-74): — 0.5 GB

Cincinnati (79-75): — 1.0 GB

San Francisco (76-76): — 3.0 GB

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (10): Thursday-Sunday: vs. New York Mets (4); Sept. 26-28: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (10): Thursday: vs. Pittsburgh (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 26-28: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

Arizona (9): Friday-Sunday: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 25-27: at Chicago White Sox (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (8): Friday-Sunday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 26-27: at Cleveland (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (9): Friday-Sunday: vs. Milwaukee (3); Sept. 26-28: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pittsburgh (3)

San Francisco (10): Thursday-Sunday: at Los Angeles Dodgers (4); Sept. 25-27: vs. San Diego (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3)