Chicago Cubs Need Massive Surge To Overtake Brewers in NL Central

The Chicago Cubs finally stopped the bleeding against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, while in New York City they got some help in their pursuit of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cubs (77-67) beat the D-Backs, 5-2, to avoid a sweep against Arizona. The Brewers (79-63) lost a weird game to the Yankees, 4-3, in 13 innings. The Brewers pitching staff carried a no-hitter into the 11th inning.

With that, the Cubs trimmed the Brewers’ lead in the National League Central and boosted their place in the Wild Card standings, putting them two games ahead of the Diamondbacks. But with games against Colorado and Arizona this week, the Cubs enter a critical stretch if they hope to catch the Brewers.

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.

The NL Central Race as of Sept. 11

Sunday's Results

Chicago Cubs 5, Arizona 2

New York Yankees 4, Milwaukee 3 (13 innings)

Milwaukee (79-63): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 17)

Chicago Cubs (77-67): 3 GB

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (20): Sunday: Monday-Thursday: vs. Miami (4); Friday-Sunday: 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 (18): Monday-Wednesday: at Colorado (3); Friday-Sunday: 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. 11

Sunday’s Results

Chicago Cubs 5, Arizona 2

Miami 5, Philadelphia 4

Cincinnati 7, St. Louis 1

San Francisco 6, Colorado 3

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (78-64): +4.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 16)

Chicago Cubs (77-67): +2.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 17)

Arizona (75-69): — (Magic Number to clinch: 19)

Miami (74-69): 0.5 GB

Cincinnati (74-71): 1.5 GB

San Francisco (73-70): 1.5 GB

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (20): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Atlanta (4); Friday-Sunday: 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 (18): Monday-Thursday: at New York Mets (4); Friday-Sunday: 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 (17): Tuesday-Thursday: at Detroit (3); Friday-Sunday: 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 (19): Monday-Thursday: at Milwaukee (4); Friday-Sunday: 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 (19): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Cleveland (3); Thursday-Sunday: 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)