This story was updated to reflect standings as of Friday, Sept. 20 at 8:45 a.m.

The AL Central was expected to be a very competitive division in 2024. However, many preseason predictions had the Guardians below the likes of the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins. Alas, here we are. With less than a month until the postseason begins, the Cleveland Guardians are back atop the AL Central, thanks in large part to tremendous offensive outputs from players like Jose Ramirez, Steven Kwan, and David Fry.

Despite immense competition from within their own division, the Guardians have remained one of the American League's most competitive teams. They finally secured a spot in the postseason with Thursday's walk-off win over the Twins.

While they've clinched a playoff berth, the Guardians still need a few wins or key losses from other teams in order to win the AL Central. Here is the Guardians' magic number for the postseason and division title.

What is the Guardians' magic number to make the 2024 MLB postseason?

• Guardians to reach MLB postseason: CLINCHED

• Guardians to win AL Central: 3

Latest MLB standings

American League:

AL East:

1. x - New York Yankees: 89-64

2. Baltimore Orioles: 85-68

3. Boston Red Sox: 76-77

4. Tampa Bay Rays: 75-78

5. Toronto Blue Jays: 73-80

AL Central:

1. x - Cleveland Guardians: 89-65

2. Kansas City Royals: 82-71

3. Detroit Tigers: 80-73

4. Minnesota Twins: 80-73

5. Chicago White Sox: 36-117

AL West:

1. Houston Astros: 83-70

2. Seattle Mariners: 78-75

3. Texas Rangers: 73-80

4. Oakland Athletics: 67-86

5. Los Angeles Angels: 62-91

National League:

NL East:

1. Philadelphia Phillies: 91-62

2. New York Mets: 85-68

3. Atlanta Braves: 83-70

4. Washington Nationals: 68-85

5. Miami Marlins: 56-97

NL Central:

1. y - Milwaukee Brewers: 88-65

2. Chicago Cubs: 78-75

3. St. Louis Cardinals: 77-76

4. Cincinnati Reds: 74-80

5. Pittsburgh Pirates: 72-81

NL West:

1. x - Los Angeles Dodgers: 91-62

2. San Diego Padres: 87-66

3. Arizona Diamondbacks: 85-68

4. San Francisco Giants: 74-79

5. Colorado Rockies: 59-94

x-clinched playoff berthy-clinched division

When does the MLB postseason start?

Although the MLB regular season finishes on Sunday, September 29. There will be one day between the end of the regular season and the start of the postseason. The postseason will begin with the Wild Card Series on Tuesday, October 1.

MLB News: Chicago White Sox nearing record for most losses

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Guardians magic number: Standings and games to make MLB playoffs