2024 MLB postseason: Magic number for New York Mets to make playoffs

This story was updated to reflect standings as of Friday, Sept. 20 at 8:30 a.m.

With the MLB postseason just around the corner, the teams that will compete for the World Series this year are starting to come into view. However, many teams have still yet to secure their spot, including the New York Mets .

After a sluggish start to the season, the Mets have emerged as one of the National League's best teams and they're playing arguably their best baseball of the season at just the right time. Now, that isn't to say that the Mets are a lock for the postseason. As a matter of fact, they're only two games up on the Atlanta Braves for the final wild card spot. However, given the Mets' incredible play as of late, their odds seem pretty good.

Here is the Mets' magic number for the 2024 postseason:

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What is the Mets' magic number to make the 2024 MLB postseason?

• Mets to reach MLB postseason: 8

Note: The Mets currently hold the tiebreaker over Braves, but the two teams still have a three-game series remaining during the final week of the regular season that will decide who secures the tiebreaker. The Mets also have a tiebreaker over the Arizona Diamondbacks, meaning if both teams finish the regular season with the same record, the Mets will earn the playoff spot, or the higher seed if both teams qualify.

Latest MLB standings

American League:

AL East:

1. x - New York Yankees: 89-64
2. Baltimore Orioles: 85-68
3. Boston Red Sox: 76-77
4. Tampa Bay Rays: 75-78
5. Toronto Blue Jays: 73-80

AL Central:

1. x - Cleveland Guardians: 89-65
2. Kansas City Royals: 82-71
3. Minnesota Twins: 80-73
4. Detroit Tigers: 80-73
5. Chicago White Sox: 36-117

AL West:

1. Houston Astros: 83-70
2. Seattle Mariners: 78-75
3. Texas Rangers: 73-80
4. Oakland Athletics: 67-86
5. Los Angeles Angels: 62-91

National League:

NL East:

1. Philadelphia Phillies: 91-62
2. New York Mets : 85-68
3. Atlanta Braves: 83-70
4. Washington Nationals: 68-85
5. Miami Marlins: 56-97

NL Central:

1. y - Milwaukee Brewers: 88-65
2. Chicago Cubs: 78-75
3. St. Louis Cardinals: 77-76
4. Cincinnati Reds: 74-80
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: 72-81

NL West:

1. x - Los Angeles Dodgers: 91-62
2. San Diego Padres: 87-66
3. Arizona Diamondbacks: 85-68
4. San Francisco Giants: 74-79
5. Colorado Rockies: 59-94

x-clinched playoff berthy-clinched division

When does the MLB postseason start?

Although the MLB regular season finishes on Sunday, September 29. There will be one day between the end of the regular season and the start of the postseason. The postseason will begin with the Wild Card Series on Tuesday, October 1.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2024 MLB postseason: Magic number for New York Mets to make playoffs