MLB magic numbers: Brewers division champs again; White Sox choke (9/16/26)
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The small-market Milwaukee Brewers did it again, claiming their fourth consecutive National League Central title and an eighth playoff berth in nine seasons.
The Brewers reduced their magic number to one with a 5-1 win in Pittsburgh, then were crowned division champs 50 minutes later when the second-place Cubs lost to the Braves 6-3 at Wrigley Field.
Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski added to his NL Cy Young resume in the clincher with seven strikeouts over five shutout innings to improve to 15-5 with a major-league best 1.89 ERA.
Elsewhere …
-- The AL Central-leading White Sox were one out away from making it two in a row this week in Cleveland over the second-place Guardians until Brayan Rocchio hit a flyball that just eluded diving left fielder Sam Antonacci, turning a 6-5 lead into a 7-6 loss. The miracle finish left the Guardians a half game behind the White Sox and 1 ½ games ahead of the Texas Rangers for the last AL wild card.
-- Junior Caminero led off the ninth inning with a walk-off homer to lift the Rays to a 2-1 win over the Athletics. The Rays’ AL East lead remained at 3 ½ games over the second-place Yankees, who blew out the Twins 8-1 at Target Field.
-- Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 Dodgers win in Cincinnati that reduced their magic number to one for clinching the NL West title for the sixth consecutive season and 13th time in 14 years since 2013.
-- The AL West-leading Astros beat the Royals 4-2 at home to stay a game up on the Rangers, who edged the Red Sox 4-2 in Arlington, Texas.
-- The Braves’ win coupled with a Phillies 6-3 loss in Washington, D.C., has their NL East lead up to 5 1/2 games.
-- The Padres’ eight-game winning streak ended with a 9-3 loss to the Rockies at Coors Field, but they still have a 2 1/2-game lead for the final NL wild card over the Diamondbacks, who lost to the Marlins at 4-2 in 11 innings.
AL EAST
TAMPA BAY RAYS (91-59)
Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Yankees 3.5 games.
Tiebreakers: Season series with Red Sox tied 5-5; Rays lead season series with Yankees 6-3.
Magic number to clinch AL East: 10
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 11.
Games remaining: 12 (5 home, 7 road).
Rays schedule:
Sept. 16-17: Athletics (2)
Sept. 18-20: Red Sox (3)
Sept. 22-24: at Yankees (4)
Sept. 25-27: at Phillies (3)
NEW YORK YANKEES (88-63)
Standings: Second in AL East. Trail first-place Rays by 3.5 games. First in AL wild-card standings. Lead Red Sox by 6 games for first AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Yankees trail season series with Rays 6-3; Yankees won season series Red Sox 7-6.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 14.
Games remaining: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Yankees schedule:
Sept. 16: at Twins (1)
Sept. 18-20: at Diamondbacks (3)
Sept. 22-24: Rays (4)
Sept. 25-27: Orioles (3)
BOSTON RED SOX (82-69)
Standings: Third in AL East. Trail first-place Rays by 9.5 games. Second in AL wild-card standings. Trail Yankees by 6 games for first AL wild card. Lead Rangers by 7 games for third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Red Sox season series with Rays tied 5-5; Red Sox lost season series with Yankees 7-6.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 5
Games remaining: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Red Sox schedule:
Sept. 16-17: at Rangers (2)
Sept. 18-20: at Rays (3)
Sept. 22-24: Guardians (3)
Sept. 25-27: Cubs (3)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (75-77)
Standings: Fourth in AL East. Trail first-place Rays by 17 games. Fifth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Guardians by 2 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 Rangers 4-0.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 9
Games remaining: 10 (4 home, 6 road).
Blue Jays schedule:
Sept. 16: Tigers (1)
Sept. 19-21: at Rangers (3)
Sept. 21-23: at Orioles (3)
Sept. 25-27: Reds (3)
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (74-78)
Standings: Fifth in AL East. Trail first-place Rays by 18 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 lost season series with Guardians 4-3; Orioles lost season series with Rangers 4-2.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 8
Games remaining: 10 (6 home, 4 road).
Orioles schedule:
Sept. 16: at Mets (1)
Sept. 18-20: Brewers (3)
Sept. 21-23: Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Yankees (3)
AL CENTRAL
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (77-74)
Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Guardians by 0.5 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 7-5; White Sox lost season series to Red Sox 6-0; White Sox won season series with Twins 8-5.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: 11
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 9
Remaining games: 11 (7 home, 4 road).
White Sox schedule:
Sept. 16: at Guardians (1)
Sept. 17-20: Tigers (4)
Sept. 22-24: at Royals (3)
Sept. 25-27: Rockies (3)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (77-75)
Standings: Second in AL Central. Trail first-place White Sox by 0.5 games. Third in AL wild-card standings. Lead Rangers by 1.5 games for third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Guardians lost season series with Blue Jays 4-2; Guardians won 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 White Sox 7-5.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 9
Remaining games: 10 (4 home, 6 road).
Guardians schedule:
Sept. 16: White Sox (1)
Sept. 18-20: Athletics (3)
Sept. 22-24: at Red Sox (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Royals (3)
DETROIT TIGERS (72-79)
Standings: Tied with Twins for third in AL Central. Trail first-place White Sox by 5 games. Seventh in AL wild-card standings. Trail Guardians by 4.5 games for third AL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Tigers lost season series with Astros 5-2; Tigers lost season series with Guardians 10-3; Tigers lost season series with Twins 8-5; Tigers trail season series with White Sox 6-3.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 7
Remaining games: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Tigers schedule:
Sept. 16: at Blue Jays (1)
Sept. 17-20: at White Sox (4)
Sept. 21-23: Nationals (3)
Sept. 25-27: Pirates (3)
AL WEST
HOUSTON ASTROS (76-75)
Standings: First in AL West. Lead second-place Rangers by 1 game.
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.
Magic number to clinch AL West: 11
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 11
Remaining games: 11 (5 home, 6 road).
Astros schedule:
Sept. 16-17: Royals (2)
Sept. 18-20: Braves (3)
Sept. 22-23: at Mariners (2)
Sept. 24-27: at Athletics (4)
TEXAS RANGERS (75-76)
Standings: Second in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 1 game. Fourth 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 won season series with Mariners 8-5; Rangers won season series with Guardians 4-2; Rangers lead season series with Blue Jays 4-0.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 11
Remaining games: 11 (8 home, 3 road).
Rangers schedule:
Sept. 16-17: Red Sox (2)
Sept. 18-20: Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 22-24: Mets (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Twins (3)
NL EAST
ATLANTA BRAVES (89-63)
Standings: First in NL East. Lead second-place Phillies by 5.5 games.
Tiebreakers: Braves won season series with Phillies 9-4; Braves won season series with Dodgers 5-1; Braves lost season series with Diamondbacks 4-3; Braves lost season series with Padres 4-3.
Magic number to clinch NL East: 5
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 2
Remaining games: 10 (3 home, 7 road)
Braves schedule:
Sept. 16: at Cubs (1)
Sept. 18-20: at Astros (3)
Sept. 22-24: Reds (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Marlins (3)
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (83-68)
Standings: Second in NL East. Trail first-place Braves by 5.5 games. Second in NL wild-card standings. Trail Cubs by 0.5 games for first NL wild card. Lead Diamondbacks by 3.5 games for third NL wild card.
Tiebreakers: Phillies lost season series with Braves 9-4; Phillies lost season series with Cubs 6-1; Phillies split season series with Diamondbacks 3-3; Phillies won season series with Padres 6-0.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 8
Remaining games: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Phillies schedule:
Sept. 16: at Nationals (1)
Sept. 17-20: at Mets (4)
Sept. 22-24: Brewers (3)
Sept. 25-27: Rays (3)
NL CENTRAL
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (94-57)
Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 10.5 games.
Tiebreakers: Brewers won season series with Cubs 9-4; Brewers won season series with Dodgers 4-3; Brewers won season series with Diamondbacks 4-2; Brewers lost season series with Padres 4-2.
Magic number to clinch NL Central: Clinched Sept. 15.
Remaining games: 11 (3 home, 8 road).
Brewers schedule:
Sept. 16-17: at Pirates (2)
Sept. 18-20: at Orioles (3)
Sept. 22-24: at Phillies (3)
Sept. 25-27: Cardinals (3)
CHICAGO CUBS (84-68)
Standings: Second in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 10.5 games. First in NL wild-card standings. Lead Phillies by 0.5 games for 1st NL wild card; Lead Diamondbacks by 4 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.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 8
Remaining games: 10 (4 home, 6 road).
Cubs schedule:
Sept. 16: Braves (1)
Sept. 18-20: at Reds (3)
Sept. 22-24: Marlins (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Red Sox (3)
NL WEST
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (92-59)
Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Padres by 10 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.
Magic number to clinch NL West: 1
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Sept. 14.
Remaining games: 11 (5 home, 6 road).
Dodgers schedule:
Sept. 16-17: at Reds (2)
Sept. 18-20: Giants (3)
Sept. 22-24: Padres (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Giants (3)
SAN DIEGO PADRES (82-69)
Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 10 games. Third in NL wild-card standings. Lead Diamondbacks by 2.5 games for third NL 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.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 9
Remaining games: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Padres schedule:
Sept. 16-17: at Rockies (2)
Sept. 18-20: Marlins (3)
Sept. 22-24: at Dodgers (3)
Sept. 25-27: Diamondbacks (3)
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (80-72)
Standings: Third in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 12 games. Fourth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Padres by 2.5 games 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 4-2.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 9
Remaining games: 10 (5 home, 5 road).
Diamondbacks schedule:
Sept. 16: Marlins (1)
Sept. 18-20: Yankees (3)
Sept. 22-24: at Rockies (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Padres (3)
CURRENT POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Rays (1), White Sox (2) byes
Guardians (6) at Astros (3)
Red Sox (5) at Yankees (4)
NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Brewers (1), Dodgers (2) byes
Padres (6) at Braves (3)
Phillies (5) at Cubs (4)
Note: Higher seed will host all Wild Card Series games from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1.
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