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Chicago Cubs clinch NL Central Division title

The Chicago Cubs are division champions for the first time since 2008. 
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The Chicago Cubs won the National League Central division title for the first time since 2008 after the Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6–2 in San Francisco on Thursday.

The Cubs, which earlier had the chance to clinch had they won on Thursday, fell to the Milwaukee Brewers 5–4 in Chicago.

Chicago is the first team to earn a playoff berth this season and will start the National League Division Series on Oct. 7 seeking its first World Series title since 1908.

Though the Cubs clinched the division on Thursday, the second-place Cardinals are still playoff contenders, sitting one game out of the second wild card spot in the National League.

"To be this young and to be this good, that's the part that's different for me, and that's the part that stands out. Everyone is saying how good we are, but I'm telling you, these guys are going to get better," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

Best moments from the Cubs’ magical seasonHow Kris Bryant became an MVP candidate

Chicago has held the outright division lead since April 11, the team’s seventh game of the season. The Cubs are led by two MVP candidates, third baseman Kris Bryant and first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

The Cubs also lead the majors in ERA, WHIP, quality starts and opponents’ batting average.

- Scooby Axson