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With just one three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates remaining, the Atlanta Braves have locked up at least the National League's first wild card spot, and remain just inside the cusp of the race for the NL East crown, three games back of the Washington Nationals with three games remaining.
The Nationals will close their season with a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies, and any Washington victory or Atlanta loss would spell the division crown for the Nationals. In that case, the Braves would be assured of one of the league's two wild card spots.
The St. Louis Cardinals, which currently occupy the second wild card spot, have a magic number of two to clinch that position — any combination of two Cardinals victories or Los Angeles Dodgers losses would spell a playoff berth for St. Louis.
Here are the current standings in the NL East:
Team | Wins | Losses | Percentage | GB |
z-Washington Nationals | 96 | 63 | 0.604 | -- |
z-Atlanta Braves | 93 | 66 | 0.585 | 3 |
Philadelphia Phillies | 80 | 79 | 0.503 | 16 |
New York Mets | 73 | 86 | 0.459 | 23 |
Miami Marlins | 67 | 92 | 0.421 | 29 |
And for the National League's Wild Card:
Team | Wins | Losses | Percentage | GB |
z-Atlanta Braves | 93 | 66 | 0.585 | -- |
St. Louis Cardinals | 86 | 73 | 0.541 | -- |
Los Angeles Dodgers | 84 | 75 | 0.528 | 2 |
Milwaukee Brewers | 81 | 78 | 0.509 | 5 |
Philadelphia Phillies | 80 | 79 | 0.503 | 6 |
Arizona Diamondbacks | 80 | 79 | 0.503 | 6 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 77 | 82 | 0.484 | 9 |
San Diego Padres | 75 | 84 | 0.472 | 11 |
New York Mets | 73 | 86 | 0.459 | 13 |
Miami Marlins | 67 | 92 | 0.421 | 19 |
Colorado Rockies | 62 | 97 | 0.39 | 24 |
Chicago Cubs | 60 | 99 | 0.377 | 26 |
Houston Astros | 53 | 106 | 0.333 | 33 |
z-Clinched Playoff Spot