The so-called "magic number" is a term often used in sports to determine the number of wins needed by a team to secure a playoff spot. In the case of the New Jersey Devils, their magic number refers to the number of victories required to guarantee a spot in the NHL playoffs. The concept of a magic number can be complex, as it takes into account not only the number of wins needed by a particular team, but also the number of games remaining for both the team in question and their closest competitors. If the Devils' magic number is, for example, 10, it would mean that any combination of 10 wins by the Devils or losses by their competitors would result in the Devils clinching a playoff berth. The magic number can change throughout the course of a season depending on the outcomes of games. It is an exciting and suspenseful statistic for fans to follow as their team makes a push for the playoffs.
It is an exciting and suspenseful statistic for fans to follow as their team makes a push for the playoffs..
MLB magic numbers, schedules: Dodgers clinch NL West; Rays, Orioles wrap up playoff spots (9/18/23)
There was no drama this year in the National League West. The Dodgers were in first place for good by July 14, they had a double-digit lead by Aug. 16 and they wrapped up another division crown with two weeks to go.
The Dodgers clinched for the second year in a row and 10th time in 11 seasons Sunday with a 6-1 win in Seattle that completed a weekend sweep of the contending Mariners.
Two other clubs clinched playoff spots on Sunday, the Orioles and Rays.
There were a bunch of changes in the wild-card standings in both leagues on Sunday.
In the NL, the Diamondbacks and Marlins moved into playoff spots while the Cubs and Reds dropped out.
In the AL, the Blue Jays moved from the third spot to second by beating the Red Sox to sweep a weekend series in Toronto. The Rangers dropped from the second position to third with another loss in Cleveland, their third in three days.
Texas stayed in a playoff spot only because the Mariners also had a winless weekend playing the Dodgers.
Elsewhere on Sunday …
-- The Orioles are back in the driver’s seat in the AL East after beating the second-place Rays 5-4 in 11 innings to gain a split in a four-game series at Oriole Park. Baltimore is up two games on Tampa Bay and holds the tiebreaker because it won the season series.
-- The Marlins climbed into a playoff spot by sweeping the NL East-champion Braves in Miami. They blew out Atlanta in the series finale, winning 16-2.
-- The Twins blanked the White Sox 4-0 in Chicago to stay seven games up on the second-place Guardians. Both teams have 10 games to play.
Here’s a look at magic numbers plus the remaining schedules for the contenders through Sunday, Sept. 17, along with playoff matchups if the postseason began on Monday, Sept. 18:
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (93-56)
Standings: First in AL East. Lead Rays by 2 games.
Magic number to clinch AL East: 11
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 17.
Games remaining: 13 (6 home, 7 road).
Orioles schedule:
Sept. 18-20: at Astros (3)
Sept. 21-24: at Guardians (4)
Sept. 26-27: Nationals (2)
Sept. 28-Oct. 1: Red Sox (4)
TAMPA BAY RAYS (92-59)
Standings: Second in AL East. Trail Orioles lead by 2 games. Lead Blue Jays by 8.5 games for first AL wild card. Lead Rangers by 9 games for second AL wild card. Lead Mariners by 10 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: Clinched Sept. 17.
Games remaining: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Rays schedule:
Sept. 19-21: Angels (3)
Sept. 22-24: Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 26-27: at Red Sox (2)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Blue Jays (3)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (83-67)
Standings: Third in AL East. Trail first-place Orioles by 10.5 games. Lead Rangers by 0.5 games for second AL wild card. Lead Mariners by 1.5 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 13
Remaining games: 12 (6 home, 6 road).
Blue Jays schedule:
Sept. 19-21: at Yankees (3)
Sept. 22-24: at Rays (3)
Sept. 26-28: Yankees (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Rays (3)
Standings: Fourth in AL East. Trail first-place Orioles by 17.5 games. Trail Rangers by 6.5 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 7
Remaining games: 12 (6 home, 6 road).
Yankees schedule:
Sept. 19-21: Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 22-24: Diamondbacks (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Blue Jays (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Royals (3)
BOSTON RED SOX (74-76)
Standings: Fifth in AL East. Trail first-place Orioles by 19.5 games. Trail Rangers by 8.5 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 5
Remaining games: 12 (5 home, 7 road).
Red Sox schedule:
Sept. 18-20: at Rangers (3)
Sept. 22-24: White Sox (3)
Sept. 26-27: Rays (2)
Sept. 28-Oct. 1: at Orioles (4)
MINNESOTA TWINS (79-71)
Standings: First in AL Central. Lead second-place Guardians by 7 games.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: 6
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 6
Remaining games: 12 (6 home, 6 road).
Twins schedule:
Sept. 18-20: at Reds (3)
Sept. 22-24: Angels (3)
Sept. 26-28: Athletics (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Rockies (3)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (72-78)
Standings: Second in AL Central. Trail first-place Twins by 7 games. Trail Rangers by 10.5 games for third AL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 6
Remaining games: 12 (6 home, 6 road).
Guardians schedule:
Sept. 18-20: at Royals (3)
Sept. 21-24: Orioles (4)
Sept. 26-27: Reds (2)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Tigers (3)
HOUSTON ASTROS (84-66)
Standings: First in AL West. Lead second-place Rangers by 1.5 games.
Magic number to clinch AL Central: 12
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 12
Remaining games: 12 (6 home, 6 road).
Astros schedule:
Sept. 18-20: Orioles (3)
Sept. 22-24: Royals (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Mariners (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Diamondbacks (3)
TEXAS RANGERS (82-67)
Standings: Second in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 1.5 games. Lead Mariners by 1 game for third AL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 13
Remaining games: 13 (6 home, 7 road).
Rangers schedule:
Sept. 18-20: Red Sox (3)
Sept. 22-24: Mariners (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Angels (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Mariners (4)
SEATTLE MARINERS (81-68)
Standings: Third in AL West. Trail first-place Astros by 2.5 games. Trail Rangers by 1 game for third AL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 13
Remaining games: 13 (7 home, 6 road)
Mariners schedule:
Sept. 18-20: at Athletics (3)
Sept. 22-24: at Rangers (3)
Sept. 25-27: Astros (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Rangers (4)
ATLANTA BRAVES (96-53)
Standings: First in NL East. Lead second-place Phillies by 15 games.
Magic number to clinch NL East: Clinched Sept. 13.
Remaining games: 13 (9 home, 4 road).
Braves schedule:
Sept. 18-20: Phillies (3)
Sept. 21-24: at Nationals (4)
Sept. 26-28: Cubs (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Nationals (3)
Standings: Second in NL East. Trail first-place Braves by 15 games. Lead Diamondbacks by 3 games for first NL wild card. Lead Marlins and Cubs by 3.5 games for second and third NL wild cards.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 10
Remaining games: 13 (7 home, 6 road).
Phillies schedule:
Sept. 18-20: at Braves (3)
Sept. 21-24: Mets (4)
Sept. 26-28: Pirates (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Mets (3)
MIAMI MARLINS (78-72)
Standings: Third in NL East. Trail first-place Braves by 18.5 games. Tied with Cubs for third NL wild card. Marlins hold tiebreaker.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 13
Remaining games: 12 (6 home, 6 road).
Marlins schedule:
Sept. 18-20: Mets (3)
Sept. 22-24: Brewers (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Mets (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pirates (3)
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (84-65)
Standings: First in NL Central. Lead second-place Cubs by 6.5 games.
Magic number to clinch NL Central: 7
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 7
Remaining games: 13 (6 home, 7 road).
Brewers schedule:
Sept. 18-21: at Cardinals (4)
Sept. 22-24: at Marlins (3)
Sept. 26-28: Cardinals (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Cubs (3)
CHICAGO CUBS (78-72)
Standings: Second in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 6.5 games. Tied with Marlins for third NL wild card. Marlins hold tiebreaker.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 13
Remaining games: 12 (6 home, 6 road).
Cubs schedule:
Sept. 19-21: Pirates (3)
Sept. 22-24: Rockies (3)
Sept. 26-28: at Braves (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Brewers (3)
CINCINNATI REDS (78-73)
Standings: Third in NL Central. Trail first-place Brewers by 7 games. Trail Marlins and Cubs by 0.5 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 12
Remaining games: 11 (6 home, 5 road).
Reds schedule:
Sept. 18-20: Twins (3)
Sept. 22-24: Pirates (3)
Sept. 26-27: at Guardians (2)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Cardinals (3)
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (91-57)
Standings: First in NL West. Lead second-place Diamondbacks by 13.5 games.
Magic number to clinch NL West: Clinched Sept. 17.
Remaining games: 14 (7 home, 7 road).
Dodgers schedule:
Sept. 18-20: Tigers (3)
Sept. 21-24: Giants (4)
Sept. 26-28: at Rockies (4)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Giants (3)
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (79-72)
Standings: Second in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 13.5 games. Lead Marlins and Cubs by 0.5 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number to clinch playoffs: 12
Remaining games: 11 (5 home, 6 road).
Diamondbacks schedule:
Sept. 19-20: Giants (2)
Sept. 22-24: at Yankees (3)
Sept. 25-27: at White Sox (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Astros (3)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (76-74)
Standings: Third in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 16 games. Trail Marlins and Cubs by 2 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 11
Remaining games: 12 (6 home, 6 road).
Giants schedule:
Sept. 19-20: at Diamondbacks (2)
Sept. 21-24: at Dodgers (4)
Sept. 25-27: Padres (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Dodgers (3)
SAN DIEGO PADRES (72-78)
Standings: Fourth in NL West. Trail first-place Dodgers by 20 games. Trail Marlins and Cubs by 6 games for third NL wild card.
Magic number for playoffs elimination: 7
Remaining games: 12 (6 home, 6 road).
Padres schedule:
Sept. 18-20: Rockies (3)
Sept. 22-24: Cardinals (3)
Sept. 25-27: at Giants (3)
Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at White Sox (3)
CURRENT POSTSEASON MATCHUPS
AL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Baltimore Orioles (1), Houston Astros (2) byes
Texas Rangers (6) at Minnesota Twins (3)
Toronto Blue Jays (5) at Tampa Bay Rays (4)
NL WILD CARD SERIES (best-of-3)
Atlanta Braves (1), Los Angeles Dodgers (2) byes
Miami Marlins (6) at Milwaukee Brewers (3)
Arizona Diamondbacks (5) at Philadelphia Phillies (4)
Note: Higher seed will host all games (from Oct. 3-5).
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Reviews for "The New Jersey Devils' magic number and its implications for the trade deadline"
1. John - 1/5 stars - I found "New Jersey Devils Magic Number" to be incredibly disappointing. The plot was weak and predictable, and the characters lacked depth and development. The writing felt amateurish, with poor grammar and awkward dialogue. Overall, I was unimpressed and would not recommend this book to others.
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3. Michael - 2/5 stars - I was excited to read "New Jersey Devils Magic Number" based on its catchy title, but sadly, it fell flat for me. The characters felt one-dimensional, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The story lacked originality and felt like a cliche-filled rehash of similar fantasy novels. Additionally, the world-building was weak, leaving me with more questions than answers. Overall, I was left unimpressed and uninterested in continuing the series.
4. Emily - 3/5 stars - While "New Jersey Devils Magic Number" had its moments, I ultimately found it to be an average read. The plot had potential, but it was not fully explored or developed. The characters were somewhat interesting, but their motivations and actions often seemed illogical. The writing style was decent, but it could have used more polish and finesse. Overall, I neither loved nor hated this book; it simply fell somewhere in the middle for me.