GlossaryBaseball (MLB)
What is a magic number?
A magic number is the combined total of team wins and rival losses needed to clinch a division or playoff spot — when it hits zero, the team is in.
It counts down as the leader wins or the closest chaser loses. A magic number of 4 means any combination of four leader-wins and chaser-losses clinches. It's a standings shorthand you'll see down the stretch of a baseball season to show how close a team is to sealing its place.
See it in the numbers
Open the spreadsheet and watch this appear in live scores and standings — disguised as work.
Related terms
How to read a baseball line score
A baseball line score shows runs by inning for each team, then three totals: R (runs), H (hits) and E (errors).
Earned run average (ERA)
ERA is the average number of earned runs a pitcher allows per nine innings — lower is better, and anything under 3.00 is excellent.
How to read a league table
A league table ranks teams by points; the columns to its right show how those points were earned — games played, wins, draws, losses, goals for and against, and goal difference.
How points work (3-1-0)
In most football leagues a win is worth 3 points, a draw 1 and a loss 0; the team with the most points at the end of the season wins the title.