Phillies’ Magic Number plummets to 3 after another wild week of September baseball

The Phillies are steamrolling their way toward October, and at this point, the NL East crown feels like a formality.

Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, Walker Buehler made his debut in red pinstripes, Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott went yard, and the Phillies handled the Royals 8-2 for their fifth straight win.

Walker Buehler debut in Philly, Harper and Stott go yard, Phillies crush Royals 8-2

Add in another Mets meltdown, this time an 8-3 loss to the Rangers, and the Magic number has dropped all the way to 3.

Here’s where the Phillies currently stand

• The Phillies (88-60) have won every game this week, turning a magic number of 13 into 3 in the blink of an eye.
• They’ve now opened a 12-game lead over the Mets in the East.
• They’re staring down a chance to be the first team in baseball to clinch their division this season.

The Mets are cooked. After getting embarrassed in four straight by the Phillies, they limped home only to catch Texas, one of the hottest teams in baseball, and got smacked around again. Their playoff hopes are circling the drain, and Philly’s about to pour the final shovel of dirt.

WATCH: Mets DJ tells Citi Field to “Get The Party Started” immediately following the team getting shelled for six runs in 1st inning

This will mark the Phillies’ fourth straight postseason appearance and their first back-to-back NL East titles since that 2007–2011 dynasty run.

For the uninitiated, that’s when The Fightins racked up five straight division crowns, a World Series win in ’08, another trip in ’09, and an NLCS in 2010.

What’s Left on the Table

• Magic Number: 3
• Games Remaining: 14
• Schedule: Royals (2), Dodgers (3), Diamondbacks (3), Marlins (3), Twins (3).

If everything breaks right, the Phillies could wrap this thing up as early as Sunday. Worst-case scenario, they clinch out West next week.

Either way, it’s coming and soon.

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