Sports Magic Numbers
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St. Louis Cardinals (STL)

National League – Central • Record: 53-51 (0.510)
Race:

Seed Chasing Arizona Diamondbacks for a wild card spot (2 game(s) back)
Numbers Magic path: chasing wild card — 11 rivals contending for 3 spots
Magic # 59
Tragic # 57
Playoff odds 24.9%
Division 0.1% • Wild card 24.7%
Full league odds →
Magic counts down to clinching — drops as you win or bubble teams lose.
Tragic counts down to elimination — drops as you lose or the chaser wins.

Playoff pace

On pace for 83 wins • typical playoff line ≈ 86 wins
Line = final wins of each season's last team in, averaged over the past 4 seasons.
-3 behind the line

Tonight's rooting guide


Live rooting guide — it updates as games go final, so items may disappear.
Showing remaining games that can still affect your numbers.
Your game
  • If St. Louis Cardinals beat Cincinnati Reds tonight, your Magic number -1.
    Magic -1
  • If St. Louis Cardinals lose to Cincinnati Reds tonight, your Magic number -1 and your Tragic number -1.
    Magic -1Tragic -1

What-if explorer

Drag the sliders — the numbers recalculate instantly using the site's real playoff math.
If St. Louis Cardinals go 5-5 while Arizona Diamondbacks go 5-5:
Magic # 59 → 49Magic -10 Tragic # 57 → 47Tragic -10
Assumes these games come against teams outside your race; every other rival's record stays as-is.

Draft lottery outlook

If the season ended today: lottery seed No. 18 — a 0.2% chance at the No. 1 pick and an expected pick of 17.7.

Full draft order & lottery simulator →

Frequently asked questions

What is the St. Louis Cardinals magic number right now?

The St. Louis Cardinals magic number is currently 59. Any combination of St. Louis Cardinals wins and losses by the team chasing them that adds up to 59 clinches a playoff spot.

What is the St. Louis Cardinals elimination number?

The St. Louis Cardinals elimination number is 57. When it hits 0 the team is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. It shrinks when the St. Louis Cardinals lose or when the team chasing them gains ground.

What are the St. Louis Cardinals playoff odds?

Based on 10,000 simulations of the remaining schedule, the St. Louis Cardinals make the playoffs in about 24.9% of outcomes.

What is a magic number in baseball?

A magic number is the combined total of team wins and chasing-team losses that guarantees a playoff spot. When it reaches 0, the spot is clinched no matter what happens in the remaining games.

When did the St. Louis Cardinals last make the playoffs?

The St. Louis Cardinals last made the MLB playoffs in 2022. They have missed 3 straight postseasons.

When did the St. Louis Cardinals last win the World Series?

The St. Louis Cardinals have won 11 World Series titles, most recently in 2011.

How often are these numbers updated?

Standings and magic numbers on Sports Magic Numbers refresh throughout the day and after every MLB game, so the numbers here reflect the live playoff race.

Full guide: how magic numbers work →