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Phillies starter Aaron Nola throws 6 shutout innings in win over Mets

Nola returns to form after recent struggles

The Philadelphia Phillies are closing in on another Red October.

The Phillies defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-6 on Sept. 13 to pull closer the postseason and an NL East title as the New York Mets lost to the Texas Rangers 3-2.

Here’s what you should know about the Phillies‘ magic number and how close they are to a fourth-straight postseason berth.

What are the Phillies‘ magic numbers?

The Phillies‘ magic number to clinch a postseason berth is 1.

The Phillies‘ magic number to clinch the NL East is 1.

The Phillies‘ magic number to clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs is 9.

If the Phillies win or the New York Mets lose Sept. 14, Philadelphia will clinch a postseason berth and the NL East title.

The closest competitor for a first-round bye is the Los Angeles Dodgers.

What are magic numbers?

According to MLB.com, the phrase “magic number” is used to determine how close a team is to making the playoffs or winning the division.

A team’s magic number represents the combination of wins needed by that team and losses by its closest competitor to clinch a given goal. Every time a team wins, its magic number decreases by one. Similarly, every time that team’s closest competitor for the division (or Wild Card) loses, the magic number also decreases by one.

What time do the Phillies play today?

The Phillies face the Kansas City Royals at 1:35 p.m., on Sept. 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Right-hander Aaron Nola (4-8, 6.24 ERA) will pitch for the Phillies. Left-hander Noah Cameron (7-7, 3.00 ERA) will pitch for the Royals.

What channel is the Phillies game on tonight?

The game will be broadcast on NBCSP. The radio broadcast will be on 94WIP and WDEL 101.7 FM/1150 AM. 7 FM/1150 AM. 

How can I livestream the Phillies‘ game?

If you live in the Philadelphia television market, NBCSP will stream the game on nbcsportsphiladelphia.com and the NBCSP app. NBCSP is also available on  FuboTV, Hulu, Peacock and YouTube TV.

Watch the Phillies live on Fubo

The game will also be available on MLB.TV to those with streaming packages. You can also stream the radio broadcasts with MLB Audio.