​HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 18: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by Ozzie Albies #1 after a play in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) Tim WarnerThe Atlanta Braves clinched a spot in MLB playoffs with their win over the Houston Astros on Friday night. But the job isn’t done for the Braves with their eyes set on another National League East division title. Atlanta holds a 5-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies, who lost to the New York Mets on Friday night. So where does their “magic number” to clinch the division stand? Atlanta’s magic number to win the NL East is down to three. The earliest it can win the division is Sunday.[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]Any combination of Braves victories and Phillies losses that equals the magic number will result in the NL East Division title for the Braves.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.Each time the Braves win, that reduces the magic number by one. Each time the Phillies lose, that also reduces the magic number by one. The Braves have series left with the Astros, Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins. The Phillies have series left with the Mets, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays.Atlanta does hold the tiebreaker over Philadelphia. Atlanta Braves ‘magic number’ tracker to win NL EastSept. 11: Braves won, Phillies lost. Magic number = 9Sept. 12: Braves won, Phillies lost. Magic number = 7Sept. 13: Braves lost, Phillies won. Magic number = 7Sept. 14: Braves lost, Phillies off. Magic number = 7Sept 15: Braves won, Phillies lost. Magic number = 5Sept. 16: Braves lost, Phillies won. Magic number = 5Sept. 17: Braves off, Phillies won. Magic number = 5Sept. 18: Braves won, Phillies lost. Magic number = 3Sept. 19: Braves at Astros, Phillies at MetsSept. 20: Braves at Astros, Phillies at Mets