<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3tP59U_0vkEzxzW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3tP59U_0vkEzxzW00" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>The Royals have a two-game lead over the Twins for a wild-card position after consecutive road wins over the Nationals this week following a season-long, seven-game losing streak. AP</figcaption></figure>NEW YORK — Two American League wild-card spots will come down to the final weekend of the regular season with the Twins desperately trying to make up ground on the Royals and Twins.A three-team battle for two National League wild-cards won’t be settled this weekend because Hurricane Helene postponed the Mets-Braves’ games in Atlanta on Wednesday and Thursday nights, forcing a Monday doubleheader.All of the AL contenders won Wednesday night.The Royals shut out the Nationals 3-0 in D.C., for their second win in a row after seven consecutive losses. KC remained tied with the Tigers for the second and third wild card. Detroit blew out the visiting Rays 7-1 for its fourth win in a row and eighth in nine games.SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE YANKEES NEWSLETTERSThe Twins ended a three-game losing streak with an 8-3 win over the Marlins in Minneapolis to stay two games behind the Royals and Tigers.The Diamondbacks whipping the Giants 8-2 on Wednesday has them tied with the Mets for the second and third spots with the Braves one game behind both.Elsewhere …-- The NL West-leading Dodgers beat the second-place Padres 4-3 to go three games up with four to play. LA will clinch the division title with a win in Thursday night’s series finale.-- <a href="https://www.nj.com/yankees/2024/09/yankees-aaron-judge-hits-no-57-but-orioles-deliver-another-powerful-message.html">The Orioles prevented the Yankees</a> from clinching the AL East for the second night in a row at Yankee Stadium with a 9-7 win. The Yankees are still up four games with four to play and ace Gerrit Cole will be their starter against the O’s on Thursday night.-- The Mariners remained 2.5 games out of an AL wild-card spot with an 8-1 win in Houston over the Astros, who clinched the AL West the night before.-- The AL Central-champion Guardians stopped the Reds 5-2 in Cleveland to get to within a half-game of the Yankees for best record in the AL. The Yankees have the tiebreaker.-- The NL East-champion Phillies turned back the Cubs 9-6 to stay a half-game behind the Dodgers for the top seed in the NL playoffs. The Phillies have the tiebreaker.-- The Red Sox were mathematically eliminated from AL wild-card contention with a 6-1 loss in Toronto.<h2>AL EAST</h2><h2><a href="https://www.nj.com/yankees/">NEW YORK YANKEES</a> (92-66)</h2>Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Orioles by 4 games.Tiebreakers: Yankees trail season series with Orioles 8-4; Yankees won season series with Guardians 4-2.Magic number to clinch AL East: 1Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched on Sept. 17.Yankees schedule:Sept. 26: vs. Orioles, 7:05 p.m., ESTSept. 27: vs. Pirates, 7:05 p.m., ESTSept. 28: vs. Pirates, 1:05 p.m., ESTSept. 29: vs. Pirates, 3:05 p.m., EST<h2>BALTIMORE ORIOLES (88-70)</h2>Standings: Second in AL East. Trail first-place Yankees by 4 games. First in AL wild-card standings. Lead Royals and Tigers by 4 games for first and second AL wild card.Tiebreakers: Orioles lead season series with Yankees 8-4.Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 24.Orioles schedule:Sept. 26: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., ESTSept. 27: at Twins, 7:05 p.m., ESTSept. 28: at Twins, 8:10 p.m., ESTSept. 29: at Twins, 3:10 p.m., EST<h2>AL CENTRAL</h2><h2>CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (92-67)</h2>Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Royals and Tigers by 7.5 games.Tiebreakers: Guardians lost season series with Yankees 4-2.Magic number to clinch AL Central: Clinched Sept. 21.Guardians schedule:Sept. 27: vs. Astros, 7:10 p.m., ESTSept. 28: vs. Astros, 6:10 p.m., ESTSept. 29: vs. Astros, 3:10 p.m., EST<h2>KANSAS CITY ROYALS (84-74)</h2>Standings: Tied with Tigers for second in AL Central. Tied with Tigers for second and third AL wild card. Lead Twins by 2 games for third AL wild card.Tiebreakers: Royals lost season series with Twins 7-6; Royals and Mariners season series tied 3-3; Royals won season series with Tigers 7-6.Magic number to clinch playoffs: 3Royals schedule:Sept. 26: at Nationals, 1:10 p.m., ESTSept. 27: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., ESTSept. 28: at Braves, 7:20 p.m., ESTSept. 29: at Braves, 3:20 p.m., EST<h2>DETROIT TIGERS (84-74)</h2>Standings: Tied with Royals for second in AL Central. Tied with Royals for second and third AL wild card. Lead Twins by 2 games third AL wild card.Tiebreakers: Tigers lost season series with Twins 7-6; Tigers lost series with Royals 7-6; Tigers won season series with Mariners 5-1.Magic number to clinch playoffs: 3Tigers schedule:Sept. 26: vs. Rays, 1:10 p.m., ESTSept. 27: vs. White Sox, 6:40 p.m., ESTSept. 28: vs. White Sox, 1:10 p.m., ESTSept. 29: vs. White Sox, 3:10 p.m., EST<h2>MINNESOTA TWINS (82-76)</h2>Standings: Fourth in AL Central. Fourth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Royals and Tigers by 2 games for second and third AL wild card.Tiebreakers: Twins won season series with Royals 7-6; Twins won season series with Tigers 7-6; Twins won season series with Mariners 5-2.Magic number for playoffs elimination: 3Twins schedule:Sept. 26: vs. Marlins, 7:40 p.m., ESTSept. 27: vs. Orioles, 7:05 p.m., ESTSept. 28: vs. Orioles, 8:10 p.m., ESTSept. 29: vs. Orioles, 3:10 p.m., EST<h2>AL WEST</h2><h2>HOUSTON ASTROS (86-73)</h2>Standings: First in AL West. Lead second-place Mariners by 4 games.Magic number to clinch AL West: Clinched Sept. 24.Astros schedule:Sept. 27: at Guardians, 7:10 p.m., ESTSept. 28: at Guardians, 6:10 p.m., ESTSept. 29: at Guardians, 3:10 p.m., EST<h2>SEATTLE MARINERS (82-77)</h2>Standings: Second in AL West. Fifth in AL wild-card standings. Trail Royals and Tigers by 2.5 games for second and third AL wild card.Tiebreakers: Mariners lost season series with Twins 5-2; Mariners and Royals season series tied 3-3; Mariners lost season series with Tigers 5-1.Magic number for playoffs elimination: 2Mariners schedule:Sept. 27: vs. Athletics, 8:10 p.m., ESTSept. 28: vs. Athletics, 7:40 p.m., ESTSept. 29: vs. Athletics, 3:10 p.m., EST<h2>NL EAST</h2><h2><a href="https://www.nj.com/phillies/">PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES</a> (94-65)</h2>Standings: First in NL East. Lead second place Mets by 6 games.Tiebreakers: Phillies won season series with Dodgers 5-1; Phillies won season series with Brewers 4-2.Magic number to clinch NL East: Clinched Sept. 23.Phillies schedule:Sept. 27: at Nationals, 6:45 p.m., ESTSept. 28: at Nationals, 4:05 p.m., ESTSept. 29: at Nationals, 3:05 p.m., EST<h2><a href="https://www.nj.com/mets/">NEW YORK METS</a> (87-70)</h2>Standings: Second in NL East. Tied with Diamondbacks for second and third in NL wild-card standings. Lead Braves by 1 game for third NL wild card.Tiebreakers: Mets trail Braves season series with Braves 6-5; Mets won season series with D’backs 4-3; Mets won season series with Padres 5-1.Magic number to clinch playoffs: 5Mets schedule:Sept. 27: at Brewers, 8:10 p.m., ESTSept. 28: at Brewers, 7:15 p.m., ESTSept. 29: at Brewers, 3:10 p.m., ESTSept. 30: at Braves, doubleheader, 1:10 p.m., EST<h2>ATLANTA BRAVES (86-71)</h2>Standings: Third in NL East. Fourth in NL wild-card standings. Trail Mets and Diamondbacks by 1 game for third NL wild card.Tiebreakers: Braves lead season series with Mets 6-5; Braves won season series with Diamondbacks 5-2; Braves lost season series with Padres 4-3; Braves won season series with Mets 7-6.Magic number for playoffs elimination: 4Braves schedule:Sept. 27: vs. Royals, 7:20 p.m., ESTSept. 28: vs. Royals, 7:20 p.m., ESTSept. 29: vs. Royals, 3:20 p.m., ESTSept. 30: vs. Mets, doubleheader, 1:10 p.m., EST<h2>NL CENTRAL</h2><h2>MILWAUKEE BREWERS (90-68)</h2>Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 9.5 games.Tiebreakers: Brewers lost season series with Dodgers 4-3; Brewers lost season series with Phillies 4-2.Magic number to clinch NL Central: Clinched on Sept. 18.Brewers schedule:Sept. 26: at Pirates, 12:35 p.m., ESTSept. 27: vs. Mets, 8:10 p.m., ESTSept. 28: vs. Mets, 7:15 p.m., ESTSept. 29: vs. Mets, 3:10 p.m., EST<h2>NL WEST</h2><h2>LOS ANGELES DODGERS (94-64)</h2>Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Padres by 3 games.Tiebreakers: Dodgers trail season series with Padres 8-4; Dodgers lost season series with Phillies 5-1; Dodgers won season series with Brewers 4-3.Magic number to clinch NL West: 2Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 19.Dodgers schedule:Sept. 26: vs. Padres, 10:10 p.m., ESTSept. 27: at Rockies, 8:10 p.m., ESTSept. 28: at Rockies, 8:10 p.m., ESTSept. 29: at Rockies, 3:10 p.m., EST<h2>SAN DIEGO PADRES (91-67)</h2>Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 3 games. First in NL wild-card standings. Lead Mets and Diamondbacks by 3.5 games for first and second NL wild card. Lead Braves by 4.5 games for third NL wild card.Tiebreakers: Padres and Diamondbacks season series tied 5-5; Padres lead season series with Dodgers 8-4; Padres won season series with Braves 4-3; Padres lost season series with Mets 5-1.Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 24.Padres schedule:Sept. 26: at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., ESTSept. 27: at Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m., ESTSept. 28: at Diamondbacks, 8:10 p.m., ESTSept. 29: at Diamondbacks, 3:10 p.m., EST<h2>ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (88-71)</h2>Standings: Third in NL West. Tied with Mets for second and third in NL wild-card standings. Lead Braves by 1 game for third NL wild card.Tiebreakers: D’backs and Padres season series tied 5-5; D’backs lost season series with Braves 5-2; D’backs lost season series with Mets 4-3.Magic number to clinch playoffs: 4Diamondbacks schedule:Sept. 27: vs. Padres, 9:40 p.m., ESTSept. 28: vs, Padres, 8:10 p.m., ESTSept. 29: vs. Padres, 3:10 p.m., EST<h2>CURRENT POSTSEASON MATCHUPS</h2><h2>AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)</h2>Yankees (1), Guardians (2) byesTigers (6) at Astros (3)Royals (5) at Orioles (4)<h2>NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)</h2>Dodgers (1), Phillies (2) byesDiamondbacks (6) at Brewers (3)Mets (5) at Padres (4)Note: Higher seed will host all games (from Oct. 7-9).Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.Randy Miller may be reached at <a href="mailto:%20rmiller@njadvancemedia.com">rmiller@njadvancemedia.com</a>.</div></body>

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MLB magic numbers: Royals, Tigers closing in on clinch (9/26/24)

NEW YORK — Two American League wild-card spots will come down to the final weekend of the regular season with the Twins desperately trying to make up ground on the Royals and Twins. A three-team battle for two National League wild-cards won’t be settled this weekend because Hurricane Helene...

MLB magic numbers: Royals, Tigers closing in on clinch (9/26/24)

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