Chicago Cubs Improve Chances of NL Central Title, Wild Card Berth

The Chicago Cubs are now trimming the Milwaukee Brewers’ lead in the National League Central after a win over San Francisco on Monday.

That win also improved the Cubs’ chances of clinching a Wild Card berth, if they’re unable to catch the Brewers and win the Central.

But it’s a wide-open race, with several teams still with plenty of chances to earn a spot into the playoff field as a Wild Card team. The Cubs still have plenty of time to improve their position.

Below is an update on the race, with the current standings, magic numbers to clinch the NL Central and a Wild Card berth, along with the remaining schedules for the teams that are still in the race as the Cubs prepare to face the San Francisco Giants again on Tuesday.

The NL Central Race as of Sept. 5

Monday’s Results

Pittsburgh 4, Milwaukee 2

Chicago Cubs 5, San Francisco 0

Milwaukee (76-61): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 23)

Chicago Cubs (74-64): 2.5 games back

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (25): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Pittsburgh (2); Friday-Sunday: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 11-14: vs. Miami (4); Sept. 15-17: vs. Washington (3); Sept. 18-21: at St. Louis (4); Sept. 22-24: at Miami (3); Sept. 26-28: vs. St. Louis (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Chicago Cubs (3)

Chicago Cubs (24): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. San Francisco (2); Thursday-Sunday: vs. Arizona (4); Sept. 11-13: at Colorado (3); Sept. 15-17: at Arizona (3); Sept. 19-21: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 26-28: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 5

Monday’s Results

Chicago Cubs 5, San Francisco 0

Philadelphia 9, San Diego 7

Arizona 4, Colorado 2

Cincinnati 6, Seattle 3

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (76-61): +5.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 20)

Chicago Cubs (74-64): +3.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 22)

Arizona (71-67), Cincinnati (72-68): both have same winning percentage.

Miami (70-67): .5 Games back

San Francisco (70-68): 1.0 Game back

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (25): Tuesday-Wednesday: at San Diego (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. Miami (3); Sept. 11-13: vs. Atlanta (4); Sept. 15-17: at St. Louis (3); Sept. 18-20: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 21-24: vs. New York Mets (4); Sept. 26-28: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at New York Mets (3)

Arizona (24): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Colorado (2); Thursday-Sunday: at Chicago Cubs (4); Sept. 11-14: at New York Mets (4); Sept. 15-17: vs. Chicago Cubs (3); Sept. 19-20: vs. San Francisco (2); Sept. 22-24: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 25-27: at Chicago White Sox (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (22): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Seattle (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. St. Louis (3); Sept. 12-14: at Detroit (3); Sept. 15-17: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 18-20: vs. Minnesota (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 26-27: at Cleveland (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (25): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3); Friday-Sunday: at Philadelphia (3); Sept. 11-14: at Milwaukee (4); Sept. 15-17: vs. Atlanta (3); Sept. 18-20: vs. New York Mets (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Milwaukee (3); Sept. 26-28: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pittsburgh (3)

San Francisco (24): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Chicago Cubs (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 11-13: vs. Cleveland (3); Sept. 14-17: at Colorado (4); Sept. 19-20: at Arizona (2); Sept. 21-24: at Los Angeles Dodgers (4); Sept. 25-27: vs. San Diego (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3)