The Arizona Diamondbacks’ magic number to reach playoff scenarios

(This story was updated after Friday’s MLB games.)

How can the Arizona Diamondbacks clinch a spot in the 2024 MLB playoffs?

The team has several options available to it in the final few games of the regular season heading into the MLB postseason.

The DBacks’ magic number is 3, meaning Arizona needs that combined number of Diamondbacks wins and losses to their closest competitor to make the 2024 postseason.

Arizona is currently 88-72 on the season and in fourth place in the National League wild-card race (three wild-card teams make the playoffs).

The New York Mets (87-71) are in third place, while the Atlanta Braves (87-71) are in second place, thanks to tiebreakers over New York and Arizona.

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Arizona has two games remaining against the San Diego Padres in Phoenix. The Mets play two road games against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday and then a doubleheader in Atlanta. The Braves play two games at home against the Kansas City Royals and then the doubleheader against New York.

The Mets and Braves own tiebreakers over the Diamondbacks, so Arizona needs to finish with a better record than either of those teams to get into the playoffs.

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Diamondbacks win two games, Braves lose two games

This scenario would put the Diamondbacks above the Braves in the National League wild-card race.

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Diamondbacks win two games, Mets lose three games

The DBacks would stay ahead of the Mets if New York lost three games and Arizona won two.

Diamondbacks win one game, Braves lose three games

Arizona would enter the postseason with Atlanta losing three of its last five games.

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Diamondbacks win one game, Mets lose four games

New York would drop four of their last five, combined with Arizona winning one against the Padres, would help the DBacks into the postseason.

Diamondbacks win zero games, Braves lose four games

The DBacks would return to the postseason if they were swept by the Padres, provided the Braves lost four of their last five games.

Diamondbacks win zero games, Mets lose five games

Arizona could also get into the playoffs if the Mets lost all their remaining games, even if Arizona didn’t win another game.

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Reach Jeremy Cluff at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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