Philadelphia Phillies Trim Wild Card Magic Number to Single Digits

The Philadelphia Phillies' magic number would give them the top Wild Card berth in the National League playoffs.

The Philadelphia Phillies now have a single-digit magic number when it comes to clinching a National League Wild Card berth.

Philadelphia’s win over Atlanta, 7-1, put them in position to clinch that first Wild Card berth a little bit sooner.

The Phillies (82-68) may clinch their playoff berth earlier than that. Going into Tuesday’s action the Phillies are now four games up on the Wild Card field with a dozen games left to play.

They’re making themselves harder to catch, and by week’s end the Phillies may have a playoff berth clinched, even if they don’t have the seeding in hand.

But, with a four-game lead on the field, the Phillies have to feel comfortable with their situation. And the top Wild-Card seed comes with a home playoff series, a luxury the Phillies didn’t have a season ago.

Meanwhile, with three Wild Card pursuers idle, the only significant move was the Chicago Cubs moving back into the final Wild Card berth by virtue of percentage points over Cincinnati.

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. 19

Monday’s Results

Philadelphia 7, Atlanta 1

Cincinnati 7, Minnesota 3

New York Mets 2, Miami 1

Chicago Cubs, idle

Arizona, idle

San Francisco, idle

Standings

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (82-68): +4.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 9)

Arizona (79-72): — +0.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 12)

Chicago Cubs (78-72): — (Magic Number to clinch: 12)

Cincinnati (79-73): —

Miami (78-73): — 0.5 GB

San Francisco (76-74): — 2.0 GB

Note: Cubs have the final Wild Card berth by percentage points if the season were to end today.

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (12): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Atlanta (2); Thursday-Sunday: vs. New York Mets (4); Sept. 26-28: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (12): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 26-28: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

Arizona (11): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. San Francisco (2); Friday-Sunday: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 25-27: at Chicago White Sox (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (10): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Minnesota (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 26-27: at Cleveland (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (11): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. New York Mets (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. Milwaukee (3); Sept. 26-28: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pittsburgh (3)

San Francisco (12): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Arizona (2); Thursday-Sunday: at Los Angeles Dodgers (4); Sept. 25-27: vs. San Diego (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3)