Cubs icon Rizzo retires from MLB after 14 seasons
Former Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after 14 seasons.
unbranded – Sport
The Philadelphia Phillies are in the midst of another great season. Currently sitting in first place in the National League East, the Phillies could very well be on their way to a second consecutive division title and fourth straight playoff appearance. However, they have not accomplished either of those feats just yet.
With just 16 games left on their schedule, it won’t be long before the Phillies punch their ticket to the postseason yet again – or, should fate be dreadfully against them, they fail to reach the playoffs altogether. As unlikely as it may sound, it is still a mathematical possibility.
But with such massive margin for error, the Phillies have an exceptionally long leash. They could drop more than a few games, even go .500 the rest of the season and still finish the year with a massive lead over the second-place New York Mets.
Here is the team’s magic number as we get closer to October baseball:
What is the Phillies’ magic number?
The Phillies currently have three magic numbers: one to clinch a playoff berth, one to clinch an NL East title and one to secure a first-round bye.
Phillies magic numbersClinch postseason berth: 4Clinch NL East title: 7Clinch first-round bye: 13Current NL Playoff standings
If the MLB playoffs were to start Thursday, Sept. 11, here would be the standings in the National League:
Milwaukee Brewres: 89-58 (first-round bye)Philadelphia Phillies: 86-60 (first-round bye)Los Angeles Dodgers: 82-64Chicago Cubs: 83-63 (wild card)San Diego Padres: 79-67 (wild card)New York Mets: 76-60 (wild card)
In the Hunt:
Cincinnati Reds: 74-72San Francisco Giants: 74-72Arizona Diamondbacks: 73-74St. Louis Cardinals: 72-75What is a “magic number”?
The term “magic number” is a figure that indicates how close a team is to securing a postseason berth, division title, or wild card berth. The figure indicates how many wins or losses by their closest competitor is needed in order to achieve a certain goal.
Every win decreases the number by one. Every loss by the team’s closest competitor lowers the number by one as well.
Phillies remaining scheduleSept. 11: vs. New York MetsSept. 12-14: vs. Kansas City RoyalsSept. 15-17: at Los Angeles DodgersSept. 19-21: at Arizona DiamondbacksSept. 23-25: vs. Miami MarlinsSept. 26-28: vs. Minnesota Twins
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