What is the Blue Jays’ magic number to clinch playoff spot?

9/26 Update: The Jays’ magic number is down to 3 after defeating the Yankees on Monday night 3-2 in extra innings.

9/23 Update: The Blue Jays sit 8.5 games back of the New York Yankees in the AL East. They are currently sitting in the second Wild Card spot and their magic number to clinch a playoff berth is 9.

The Toronto Blue Jays were the betting favorite to win the AL East coming into Opening Day, listed at +185 by DraftKings Sportsbook. Such an outcome now looks unlikely as the Blue Jays trail the Yankees for the division lead with not many games remaining. But Toronto is in a good spot to make it back to the playoffs as a wild card after missing out on the postseason last year. Here’s a look at the Blue Jays’ magic number.

Blue Jays magic number

Playoffs: 8

Entering Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Jays are 13-5 in September — only the Astros (13-4) and Braves (12-4) have a better record in baseball since the start of the month. That run has Toronto atop the AL Wild Card standings at 83-64. The Blue Jays’ fate may be decided over their next nine games, all of which will be against current playoff teams.

If the season ended today, Toronto, the AL’s No. 4 seed, would host the Rays in a three-game Wild Card series at Rogers Centre. Then, if Toronto advances, it would have a date with the American League’s presumptive No. 1 seed, the Houston Astros, in the Divisional Round. With Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doing big-time damage at the plate, and a pitching rotation headed by Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays won’t be an easy out in a short postseason series.