MLB standings: Magic numbers, playoff picture as of Sept. 28

As the MLB season winds down, the pennant races are heating up and teams are making their final attempts to sneak into the playoffs.

Pundits and analysts alike are beginning to throw around the term "magic number," which is the combined number of wins by the leading team and the losses by the trailing team that determines when the trailing team is eliminated from playoff contention. 

Here's a look at the magic numbers for each MLB divisional race entering play Friday, Sept. 28:

MORE: MLB playoffs schedule, bracket on road to 2018 World Series

MLB standings: Magic numbers, playoff picture

AL East

First-place team: Red Sox (clinched division)

Magic number to eliminate:  
2. Yankees (Eliminated; clinched wild card)
3. Rays (Eliminated)
4. Blue Jays (Eliminated)
5. Orioles (Eliminated)

AL Central

First-place team: Indians (clinched division)

Magic number to eliminate: 
2. Twins (Eliminated)
3. Tigers (Eliminated)
4. White Sox (Eliminated)
5. Royals (Eliminated)

AL West

First-place team: Astros (clinched division)

Magic number to eliminate: 
2. Athletics (Eliminated; clinched wild card)
3. Mariners (Eliminated)
4. Angels (Eliminated)
5. Rangers (Eliminated)

AL wild cards

1. Yankees (clinched playoff berth)
2. Athletics (clinched playoff berth)

NL East

First-place team: Braves (clinched division)

Magic number to eliminate: 
2. Nationals (Eliminated)
3. Phillies (Eliminated)
4. Mets (Eliminated)
5. Marlins (Eliminated)

NL Central

First-place team: Cubs (clinched playoff berth)

Magic number to eliminate: 
2. Brewers (2; clinched playoff berth)
3. Cardinals (Eliminated)
4. Pirates (Eliminated)
5. Reds (Eliminated)

NL West

First-place team: Rockies (clinched playoff berth)

Magic number to eliminate: 
2. Dodgers (2)
3. Diamondbacks (Eliminated)
4. Giants (Eliminated)
5. Padres (Eliminated)

NL wild cards

1. Brewers (clinched playoff berth)
2. Dodgers

Magic number to eliminate:  
Cardinals (Magic number: 1)

NL playoff odds

National League projections are courtesy of AccuScore.com. All records and odds are through Sept. 28.

NL Central

NL West