Okay, so I’ve been following the Brewers pretty closely this season, and like everyone else, I’m always wondering how many games they need to win to clinch a playoff spot. I decided to figure it out – not in a super-scientific way, mind you, but just enough to satisfy my own curiosity.
The Setup
First, I needed to know where things stood.
- I checked the current MLB standings. That gives you the win-loss records for each team.
Simple Math Time
Then came the fun part (if you like ballpark math, that is).
I grabbed a pen and paper, cause I am good at calculating.
- Target Wins: Usually, around 90 wins gets you in the conversation for a playoff spot. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s a good benchmark.
- Games Remaining: I quickly looked at the Brewers schedule to see the count the number of games left.
- Wins Needed:Subtracted the Brewers’ current wins from that 90-win target. That’s the minimum they likely need.
Thinking it through
I did the calculation quickly.
- The “Magic Number”: This is the cool term. It’s the combination of Brewers wins and losses by their closest competitor that guarantees the Brewers clinch. Every Brewers win reduces the magic number by one, and every loss by the closest competitor also reduces it by one.
- Other team also important:This part I need keep an eyes on the team chasing the Brewers. If they go on a crazy winning streak, the Brewers will need to win even more.
So, while I can’t give you THE definitive answer (because baseball is unpredictable!), I can now give you a pretty good estimate any time I want. I just repeat the simple process. It’s not rocket science, but it’s fun to keep track of!
