Phillies magic number: Path to top NL seed after NL East clinch [Updated Sept. 25]

The Philadelphia Phillies have turned their second half around and look more like the team fans had been looking forward to after the rip-roaring start to the season. The Phillies ran roughshod over the league on their way to MLB's best record in the first half.

After posting a 62-34 record before the All-Star break, there was plenty of optimism among the Phillies faithful about the second half, until the realities of the 162-game marathon of the MLB season kicked in.

After a slump and some inconsistent play through July and August, the Phillies look like they're getting back on track, gaining some momentum down the stretch run and looking ahead to the playoffs. According to FanGraphs' playoff odds, they were still in the driver's seat in the NL East as the calendar turned to September, despite their struggles.

Now we’re looking ahead to the postseason and finding out how close the Phillies are to clinching the No. 1 seed in the National League after clinching the NL East and a first-round bye.

Phillies magic number: Path to top NL seed after NL East clinch

A team's magic number refers to how close it is to securing a playoff spot or winning the division, per MLB.com's definition. It's the combination of wins needed by a team and the closest team's losses.

After clinching the NL East on Monday night against the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies now have their sights squarely set on the No. 1 NL seed after securing their first-round bye on Wednesday.

The Phillies' magic number for the NL East is 0!

The Phillies' magic number is now zero! The Phillies secured their first NL East title since 2011 and snapped the Braves' six-year run as division champs. Now that the Phillies have clinched their spot in the playoffs, the next thing to worry about after the division title is clinching one of the top two seeds in the NL.

The Phillies' magic number for a first-round bye is 0!

The top two division winners in the league get byes past the Wild Card round, earning a few days off before playing in the NLDS. The Phillies will finish ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers and guarantee themselves a top-two finish in the NL.

The Phillies' magic number for the No. 1 NL seed is 4

The Phillies, as they have been much of the season, are in a battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the top seed in the National League. The honor isn't just for bragging rights, it also gives the top team home-field advantage through the NL portion of the playoffs. It could also mean home-field advantage in the World Series as well, if they finish ahead of the top American League team.

The Phillies' magic number to clinch the No. 1 spot is four. Currently, they’re tied with the Dodgers in the standings, but hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, which provides them a slight edge in the event of a tie.

After having to battle through as a Wild Card the past two seasons, the Phillies will be more than happy to have some time off before starting their trek to the World Series.