Atlanta Braves 'magic' number' tracker

The Braves’ ‘magic number’ is zero.

The Braves beat the Phillies 5-3 Saturday afternoon and clinched the NL East title.

The Braves did it with seven games to spare in the regular season.

The Braves also upped their East Division lead to an insurmountable 8 ½ games in the standings.

Photos: Braves are East Division champs

To calculate the magic number, take the number of games remaining on the leading team’s schedule, add the number one, and subtract the number of games the first-place team leads by in the loss column.

The Braves (87-68) have seven games to play. The Phillies (78-76) have eight games remaining. So take seven, add one and subtract eight to get zero.

The NL playoffs begin with the NL wild-card game on Tuesday, Oct. 2. The division series begin on Thursday, Oct. 4.

Atlanta Braves ‘magic number’ tracker

Sept. 7 - Braves lose. Phillies win. Magic number = 20
Sept. 8 - Braves win. Phillies lose. Magic number = 18
Sept. 9 - Braves win. Phillies lose. Magic number = 16
Sept. 10 - Braves win. Phillies did not play. Magic number = 15
Sept. 11 - Braves win. Phillies swept in doubleheader. Magic number = 12
Sept. 12 - Braves win. Phillies lose. Magic number = 10
Sept. 14 - Braves win. Phillies win. Magic number = 9
Sept. 15 - Braves lose. Phillies win. Magic number = 9
Sept. 16 - Braves lose. Phillies lose. Magic number = 8
Sept. 17 - Braves lose. Phillies lose. Magic number = 7
Sept. 18 - Braves lose. Phillies win. Magic number = 7
Sept. 19 - Braves win. Phillies win. Magic number = 6
Sept. 20 - Braves win. Phillies lose. Magic number = 4
Sept. 21 - Braves win. Phillies lose. Magic number = 2
Sept. 22 - Braves win. Phillies lose. Magic number = 0

Braves decline club options on Pierce Johnson, Tyler Kinley

The Braves declined the club options on relievers Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley, meaning that three of their top relievers will be free agents.

OPINION

As business booms for cost-cutting Braves, McGuirk aims for ‘top-5’ payroll

Off the field, the Atlanta Braves were a hit, with third-quarter revenue up 7% from 2024. That's little solace for fans who see ticket prices rising while the payroll isn't.