Tigers magic number update: Here’s when they can clinch AL Central Division

Detroit Tigers are down to 13 games left in the 2025 MLB regular season. They still hold a commanding lead in the American League Central Division over the Cleveland Guardians, but the Tigers (84-65) are just 6-12 in their past 18 games and have been sloppy recently.

They are no longer the top seed in the AL playoffs, losing ground to the Toronto Blue Jays.

But what’s the Tigers’ magic number in the AL Central?

The Tigers are 2-3 on this road trip, losing three in a row after Saturday’s wild 6-4 loss in 11 innings to the lowly Miami Marlins (70-79).

The Tigers still need to clinch a playoff spot, and they can do that with a good week of play coming up to seal the division, which would guarantee them homefield advantage in a playoff series.

What is the Tigers’ “magic number” to clinch the AL Central Division for the first time since 2014? Let’s break it down.

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Detroit Tigers magic number to clinch AL Central Division

Through Saturday, the Tigers’ magic number to clinch the division is 8 over the Cleveland Guardians (77-71), after the Tigers lost a heartbreaker to the Marlins, 6-4, in 11 innings. The Guardians beat the White Sox, 3-1.

The Tigers’ magic number to eliminate the third-place Kansas City Royals (74-75) from the division is 4.

The Guardians face the White Sox on Sunday before making the trip to Detroit for a three-game series.

How do you calculate a team’s magic number in baseball?

There are two different ways to determine a team’s magic number.

The first: 163 – (first-place team’s win total + second-place team’s loss total) = magic number. In the case of the Tigers, that’s 163 – (84+71). 163-155 = 8.

The second: Games remaining + 1 – (losses by second-place team – losses by first-place team) = magic number.

When could the Tigers clinch the division?

This depends on how the next series goes between the Tigers and Guardians at Comerica Park. Each win by the Tigers in that series chops two games off the Tigers’ magic number.

It’s looking more likely the Tigers might have to clinch in Cleveland in the first series of the final week. However, if the Tigers beat the Guardians in at least two games this week, they could have a chance to clinch the AL Central against the bumbling Atlanta Braves at Comerica Park over the weekend.

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Tigers schedule to end regular season

The Tigers have 13 games remaining in the regular season:

• at Marlins (Sept. 14).
• vs Guardians (Sept. 16-18).
• vs Braves (Sept. 19-21).
• at Guardians (Sept. 23-25).
• at Red Sox (Sept. 26-28).

When do the MLB playoffs 2025 begin?

• Tuesday, Sept. 30: Wild-card Game 1s.
• Saturday, Oct. 4: ALDS and NLDS Game 1s.

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