Magic Number Tracker: Phillies could clinch bye as early as Tuesday

Updated following all relevant results on Sept. 23, 2024.

The Phillies are the 2024 NL East champions.

In addition to winning the division, the Phillies would like to finish with one of the two best records among National League division winners to skip the wild card round and start the postseason with home-field advantage in the Division Series. Ideally, the Phillies would like to finish with the best record in the majors to secure home field advantage for the entirety of the postseason.

The Phillies, at 93-64 with five games left, have a 3.5-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for a first-round bye. They are a half game behind the Dodgers for the best record in MLB. The Dodgers have a game in hand.

Remaining Schedule

• 2 vs. CHC
• 3 @ WSH

NL East Standings

• Phillies: 93-64
• Mets: 87-69 — 5.5
• Braves 85-71 — 7.5

Bye Standings

• Dodgers: 93-63
• Phillies: 93-64 — 0.5
• Brewers: 89-67 — 4.0

Relevant Phillies Tiebreakers

The first tiebreaker in MLB is head-to-head record. The second is record within the division and the third is record against other National League teams not in the same division.

• The Phillies have won the tiebreaker over the Los Angeles Dodgers (5-1).
• The Phillies have lost the tiebreaker over the Atlanta Braves (6-7).
• The Phillies have won the tiebreaker over the Milwaukee Brewers (4-2).
• The Phillies have won the tiebreaker over the New York Mets (7-6).
• The Phillies have won the tiebreaker over the San Diego Padres (5-1).
• The Phillies have lost the tiebreaker over the Arizona Diamondbacks (3-4).

Other Relevant National League Tiebreakers

• The Braves and Mets are tied 5-5 in the season series with three head-to-head games left to play.
• The Padres and Diamondbacks are tied 5-5 in the season series with three head-to-head games left to play.
• The Braves have the tiebreaker against the Diamondbacks, but not against the Padres.
• The Mets have the tiebreaker over the Diamondbacks and Padres.
• The Padres have the tiebreaker over the Dodgers (7-3) with three head-to-head games still remaining.
• If all three of the Phillies, Dodgers and Brewers won their division and finished with the same record, the teams would be seeded in that order. The Phillies have the tiebreaker over the Dodgers and Brewers. The Dodgers have the tiebreaker over the Brewers.

Magic Numbers

• The Phillies’ magic number to clinch a bye to the Division Series is 2
• The Phillies do not control their own destiny to finish with the best record in the National League.

The earliest possible clinch date for a bye to the Division Series is Tuesday, Sept. 24 vs. the Cubs.

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