MLB magic numbers, tiebreakers: Rays proving Vegas wrong, on verge of clinch (9/10/26)

NEW YORK — Vegas predicted the Tampa Bay Rays finish last in the American League East this season.

The Rays have been in first place for much of the season and on the brink of becoming the first team to clinch a postseason berth.

If the Rays complete a three-game sweep of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves and the Texas Rangers lose to the Mariners in Seattle , Tampa Bay will be playoff bound for the first time since 2023.

By this weekend, the first two division crowns could be determined with the Los Angeles Dodgers up 11 games on the San Diego Padres in the NL West and the Milwaukee Brewers holding a 10-game lead on the second-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

The Yankees , who trail the Rays by four games in the AL East, can clinch a playoff spot as early as Saturday.

Here's a look at magic numbers plus the remaining schedules for the contenders through Wednesday, Sept. 9, along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Thursday, Sept. 10:

Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Yankees 4 games.

Tiebreakers: Season series with Red Sox tied 5-5; Rays lead season series with Yankees 6-3; Rays won season series with Blue Jays 9-4; Rays won season series with Guardians 5-1; Rays won season series with Rangers 4-3.

Standings: Second in AL East. Trail first-place Rays by 4 games. First in AL wild-card standings. Lead Red Sox by 3.5 games for first AL wild card. Lead Blue Jays by 11 games for third wild card.

Tiebreakers: Yankees trail season series with Rays 6-3; Yankees won season series Red Sox 7-6; Yankees won season series with Blue Jays 7-6; Yankees won season series with Guardians 4-2; Yankees won season series with Rangers 4-2.

Standings: Third in AL East. Trail first-place Rays by 8 games. Second in AL wild-card standings. Trail Yankees by 4 games for first AL wild card. Lead Blue Jays by 7.5 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Red Sox lost season series with Blue Jays 9-4; Red Sox lead season series with Guardians 2-1; Red Sox lead season series with Orioles 7-4; Red Sox season series with Rays tied 5-5; Red Sox lost season series with Yankees 7-6.

Standings: Fourth in AL East. Trail first-place Rays by 15 games. Fourth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Guardians by 1 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Blue Jays split season series with Astros 3-3; Blue Jays won season series with Guardians 4-2; Blue Jays trail season series with Mariners 2-1; Blue Jays lead season series with Orioles 4-3; Blue Jays trail season series with Rangers 4-0; Blue Jays won season series with Red Sox 9-4.

Magic number for playoffs elimination: 15

Standings: Fifth in AL East. Trail first-place Rays by 17 games. Sixth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Guardians by 3 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Orioles won season series with Astros 5-1; Orioles trail season series with Blue Jays 4-3; Orioles lost season series with Guardians 4-3; Orioles lost season series with Mariners 4-3; Orioles lost season series with Rangers 4-2; Orioles trail season series with Red Sox 7-4.

Magic number for playoffs elimination: 12

Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Guardians by 2 games.

Tiebreakers: White Sox lost season series with Astros 4-2; White Sox won season series with Blue Jays 5-1; White Sox lead season series with Guardians 6-4; White Sox split season series with Mariners 3-3; White Sox lost season series to Yankees 4-3; White Sox lost season series to Rays 4-2; White Sox lost season series to Red Sox 6-0; White Sox won season series with Twins 8-5.

Standings: Second in AL Central. Trail first-place White Sox by 2 games. Third in AL wild-card standings. Lead Blue Jays by 1 game for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Guardians lost season series with Blue Jays 4-2; Guardians won season series with Mariners 4-3; Guardians lead season series with Orioles 4-2; Guardians lost season series with Rangers 4-2; Guardians trail season series with Red Sox 2-1; Guardians trail season series with Twins 6-4; Guardians trail season series with White Sox 6-4.

Standings: Third in AL Central. Trail first-place White Sox by 6.5 games. Seventh in AL wild-card standings. Trail Guardians by 4.5 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Twins won season series with Astros 4-2; Twins lead season series with Guardians 6-4; Twins lead season series with Rangers 3-0; Twins lost season series with White Sox 8-5.

Standings: First in AL West. Lead second-place Rangers by 2 games.

Tiebreakers: Astros lost season series with Mariners 9-2; Astros lost season series with Orioles 5-1; Astros won season series with Rangers 9-4; Astros lost season series with Red Sox 5-1; Astros won season series with White Sox 4-2.

Standings: Second in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 2 games. Fifth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Guardians by 1.5 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Rangers lost season series with Astros 9-4; Rangers lead season series with Mariners 8-4; Rangers won season series with Guardians 4-2; Rangers lead season series with Blue Jays 4-0.

Standings: Third in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 6.5 games. Eighth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Guardians by 5.5 games for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Mariners won season series with Astros 9-2; Mariners lost season series with Guardians 4-3; Mariners trail season series with Rangers 8-4.

Magic number for playoffs elimination: 10

Standings: First in NL East. Lead second-place Phillies by 3 games.

Tiebreakers: Braves lead season series with Phillies 7-3; Braves won season series with Dodgers 5-1.

Standings: Second in NL East. Trail first-place Braves by 3 games. First in NL wild-card standings. Lead Cubs by 1.5 games for first NL wild card. Lead Diamondbacks by 4.5 games for third NL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Phillies trail season series with Braves 7-3; Phillies lost season series with Cubs 6-1; Phillies split season series with Diamondbacks 3-3; Phillies won season series with Padres 6-0.

Standings: Third in NL East. Trail first-place Braves by 13 games. Tied with Cardinals for sixth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Padres by 6.5 games for third NL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Marlins lead season series with Diamondbacks 3-0; Marlins trail season series with Padres 3-0.

Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 10 games.

Tiebreakers: Brewers won season series with Cubs 9-4; Brewers win season series with Dodgers 4-3; Brewers won season series with Diamondbacks 4-2; Brewers lost season series with Padres 4-2.

Standings: Second in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 10 games. Second in NL wild-card standings. Trail Phillies by 1.5 games for 1st NL wild card; Lead Diamondbacks by 3 games for third NL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Cubs lost season series with Brewers 9-4; Cubs won season series with Phillies 6-1; Cubs won season series with Diamondbacks 4-2; Cubs won season series with Padres 5-1.

Standings: Third in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 17.5 games. Fifth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Padres by 5 games for third NL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Pirates tied season series with Diamondbacks 3-3; Pirates tied season series with Padres 3-3.

Standings: Fourth in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 19 games. Tied with Cardinals for sixth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Padres by 6.5 games for third NL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Cardinals lost season series with Diamondbacks 5-2; Cardinals won season series with Padres 4-3.

Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Padres by 11 games.

Tiebreakers: Dodgers trail season series with Braves 2-1; Dodgers lost season series with Brewers 4-3; Dodgers lost season series with Diamondbacks 7-6; Dodgers lead season series with Padres 7-3;

Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 11 games. Third in NL wild-card standings. Lead Diamondbacks by 0.5 game for third AL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Padres trail season series with Dodgers 7-3; Season series with Diamondbacks tied 5-5; Padres lost season series with Phillies 6-0; Padres lost season series with Cubs 5-1.

Standings: Third in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 11.5 games. Fourth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Padres by 0.5 game for third NL wild card.

Tiebreakers: Season series with Padres tied 5-5; Diamondbacks won season series with Dodgers 7-6; Diamondbacks split season series with Phillies 3-3; Diamondbacks lost season series with Cubs 3-0.

Magic number for playoffs elimination: 16

Note: Higher seed will host all Wild Card Series games from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1.

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