Chicago Cubs Win But Don't Get Help in Pursuit of NL Central Lead

The Chicago Cubs pulled off the victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, winning 5-4.

The Cubs (78-67) won their second straight game and the victory helped continue to keep them in the second Wild Card berth in the National League. In fact, the Cubs picked up a half-game on the Philadelphia Phillies, who have the top Wild Card berth.

But, what the Cubs would love to do is track down the Milwaukee Brewers for the lead in the NL Central. But the Brewers didn’t cooperate. They beat Miami, 12-0. That helps the Cubs a little in the Wild-Card race, but it only helped the Brewers when it came to their NL Central magic number.

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. 12

Monday’s Results

Chicago Cubs 5, Colorado 4

Milwaukee 12, Miami 0

Milwaukee (80-63): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 16)

Chicago Cubs (78-67): 3 GB

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (19): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Miami (3); 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 (17): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Colorado (2); 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. 12

Monday’s Results

Chicago Cubs 5, Colorado 4

Atlanta 10, Philadelphia 8 (Game 1)

Philadelphia 7, Atlanta 5 (Game 2)

Milwaukee 12, Miami 0

Arizona 4, New York Mets 3

San Francisco 5, Cleveland 4 (10 innings)

Cincinnati, off

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (79-65): +3.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 14)

Chicago Cubs (78-67): +2.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 15)

Arizona (76-69): — (Magic Number to clinch: 17)

Miami (74-70): 1.5 GB

San Francisco (74-70): 1.5 GB

Cincinnati (74-71): 1.5 GB

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (18): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Atlanta (2); 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 (17): Tuesday-Thursday: at New York Mets (3); 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 (18): Tuesday-Thursday: at Milwaukee (3); 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 (18): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Cleveland (2); 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)