The New York Mets have been leading the NL East for all but three days this season — once in April, once in early September and now again with four games to go.
So far, this weekend’s showdown series between two division powers has been one-sided, as the reigning World Series champion Atlanta Braves won 5-2 on Friday night to force a tie for first and prevailed again 4-2 Saturday night to go up a game. The Mets’ one-game deficit is their largest of the season.
Sunday night’s series finale is crucial for both clubs because the winner will gain a game plus the tiebreaker. Thus, the winner will reduce his magic number by three. If the Braves sweep, their magic number will drop from four to one. If the Mets win, theirs will be reduced from six to three with the Braves remaining at four.
The other big race going on is for two NL Wild Cards. The San Diego Padres, 5-2 winners at home over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night are in good shape with a three-game lead for one spot, but the Philadelphia Phillies are up a game on the Milwaukee Brewers for the other while also holding the tiebreaker.
The Phillies gained a half-game on Saturday by splitting a doubleheader in Washington while the Brewers blew a ninth-inning lead at home and lost 3-2 to the Miami Marlins. The Phillies were whipped 13-4 in Game 2, then won the nightcap 8-2.
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Here’s a look at magic numbers plus the remaining schedules for the contenders through Saturday, Oct. 1, along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Sunday:
TO THE EAST
NEW YORK YANKEES (97-60)
Standings: First in AL East. Lead second-place Blue Jays by 8.5 games.
Magic number to clinch AL East: Clinched Sept. 27.
Remaining games: 1 (1 home, 4 roads).
Yankees schedule:
October 2: Orioles (1)
October 3-5: at Rangers (4)
* * *
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (89-69)
Standings: Second in AL East. Lead Mariners by 1.5 games and Rays by 3 games for first AL Wild Card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 29.
Remaining games: 4 (1 home, 3 road).
Blue Jays schedule:
October 2: Red Sox (1)
October 3-5: at Orioles (3)
* * *
TAMPA BAY RAYS (86-72)
Standings: Third in AL East. Lead Orioles by 5 games for third AL Wild Card. Trail Mariners by 1.5 game for second AL Wild Card. Trail Blue Jays by 3 games for first AL Wild Card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 30.
Remaining games: 4 (0 home, 4 road).
Rays schedule:
October 2: at Astros (1)
October 3-5: at Red Sox (3)
* * *
AL CENTRAL
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (89-69)
Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place White Sox by 11 games.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: Clinched on Sept. 25.
Remaining games: 4 (4 home, 0 road).
Guardians schedule:
October 2-5: Royals (4)
* * *
AL WEST
HOUSTON ASTROS (103-55)
Standings: First in AL West. Lead second-place Mariners by 15.5 games.
Magic number to clinch AL West: Clinched Sept. 19.
Remaining games: 4 (4 home, 0 road).
Astros schedule:
October 2: Rays (1)
October 3-5: Phillies (3)
* * *
SEATTLE MARINERS (87-70)
Standings: Second in AL West. Lead Rays by 1.5 games for second AL Wild Card. Trail Blue Jays by 1.5 games for first AL Wild Card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched on Sept. 30.
Remaining games: 5 (5 home, 0 road).
Mariners schedule:
October 2: Athletics (1)
October 3-5: Tigers (4)
* * *
NL EAST
ATLANTA BRAVES (99-59)
Standings: First in NL East. Lead Mets by 1 game.
Magic number to clinch NL East: 4.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 20.
Remaining games: 4 (1 home, 3 road).
Braves schedule:
October 2: Mets (1)
October 3-5: at Marlins (3)
* * *
NEW YORK METS (98-60)
Standings: Second in NL East. Trail Braves by 1 game. Lead Padres by 11 games for first NL Wild Card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 19.
Remaining games: 4 (3 home, 1 road).
Mets schedule:
October 2: at Braves (1)
October 3-5: Nationals (3)
* * *
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (85-73)
Standings: Third in NL East. Lead Brewers by 1 game for third NL Wild Card. Trail Padres by 1.5 games for second NL Wild Card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 3.
Remaining games: 4 (0 home, 4 road).
Phillies schedule:
October 2: at Nationals (1)
October 3-5: at Astros (3)
* * *
NL CENTRAL
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (92-66)
Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Brewers by 8 games.
Magic number to clinch NL Central: Clinched Sept. 27.
Remaining games: 4 (1 home, 3 road).
Cardinals schedule:
October 2: Pirates (1)
October 3-5: at Pirates (3)
* * *
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (84-74)
Standings: Second in NL Central. Trail Phillies by 1 game for third NL Wild Card. Trail Padres by 3 games for second NL Wild Card.
Remaining games: 4 (4 home, 0 road).
Brewers schedule:
October 2: Marlins (1)
October 3-5: Diamondbacks (3)
* * *
NL WEST
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (110-48)
Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Padres by 23 games.
Magic number to clinch NL West: Clinched Sept. 14.
Remaining games: 4 (4 home, 0 road).
Dodgers schedule:
October 2-5: Rockies (4)
* * *
SAN DIEGO PADRES (87-71)
Standings: Second in NL West. Lead Phillies by 2 games and Brewers by 3 games for second NL Wild Card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 2.
Remaining games: 4 (4 home, 0 road).
Padres schedule:
October 2: White Sox (1)
October 3-5: Giants (3)
* * *
CURRENT POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Houston Astros (1), New York Yankees (2) byes
Tampa Bay Rays (6) at Cleveland Guardians (3)
Seattle Mariners (5) at Toronto Blue Jays (4)
NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Los Angeles Dodgers (1), Atlanta Braves (2) byes
Philadelphia Phillies (6) at St. Louis Cardinals (3)
San Diego Padres (5) at New York Mets (4)
Note: Higher seed will host all games (Oct. 7-9).
* * *
AL DIVISION SERIES (best-of-5)
Mariners (5) or Blue Jays (4) vs. Astros (1)
Rays (6) or Guardians (3) vs. Yankees (2)
NL DIVISION SERIES (best-of-3)
Padres (5) or Mets (4) vs. Dodgers (1)
Phillies (6) or Cardinals (3) vs. Braves (2)
Note: No reseeding after Wild Card Series (Oct. 11-17).
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Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected].