Cubs Cut Magic Number To Clinch NL Playoff Berth After Beating Rays

The Chicago Cubs made more inroads into their magic number to clinch a National League wild card playoff berth with their 6-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

That pursuit, measured by the so-called magic number, dropped to seven after the Cubs (84-63) claimed the victory in a Friday afternoon showdown at Wrigley Field. While Ian Happ went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a home run for the Cubs, Dansby Swanson doubled, and Moises Ballesteros tripled to help the offense. Left-hander Matthew Boyd (13-8) allowed all four Rays runs, but claimed the win while Andrew Kittredge claimed another save.

Chicago's focus is on claiming that playoff berth and remaining at the top of the wild card playoff seeding, which comes with a home series.

Cubs Magic Number

Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch points after he hits an RBI single in a light blue jersey — Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Entering Friday’s game, the Cubs had a magic number of eight to claim a NL playoff berth. The magic number is a combination of Chicago wins and losses by either San Francisco or Cincinnati. Once the number reaches zero, the Cubs can celebrate a playoff berth.

The victory over the Rays on Friday helped drop that magic number. Chicago gets two more shots at the Rays, who are out of the American League playoff race, before the series ends on Sunday at Wrigley Field.

The San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-1, meaning that Chicago’s magic number dropped no further.

In the NL Central race, the Milwaukee Brewers ended their three-game losing streak and beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-2. That dropped the Brewers’ magic number to win the division to 10 games.

The Cubs are trying to get to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, when they won the NL Central title during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. That ended a run of five playoff berths in six seasons, which included the 2016 World Series title, the franchise’s first championship in more than a century.

Chicago Cubs Magic Number Watch

Chicago Cubs pitcher Andrew Kittredge (59) high fives catcher Carson Kelly (15) after the game — Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Magic Number to Clinch Playoff Berth: 7

Chicago Cubs Games Remaining: 15

Chicago Cubs Remaining Schedule: Sept. 13-14, vs. Tampa Bay; Sept. 15-17, at Pittsburgh; Sept. 18-21, at Cincinnati; Sept. 23-25 vs. New York Mets; Sept. 26-28, vs. St. Louis.

NL Wild Card Race (after Sept. 12)

Chicago Cubs: 84-63 (8.5 games ahead)

San Diego Padres: 80-68 (4.0 games ahead)

New York Mets: 76-72 (last wild card berth)

San Francisco Giants: 75-72 (0.5 games behind final berth)

Cincinnati Reds: 74-73 (1.5 games behind final berth)

NL Central Update

Milwaukee Brewers: 90-58

Chicago Cubs: 84-63 (5.5 games behind)

Brewers Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 10

Brewers Games Remaining: 14

Milwaukee Brewers Remaining Schedule: Sept. 13-14, vs. St. Louis; Sept. 16-18, vs. Los Angeles Angels; Sept. 19-21, at St. Louis; Sept. 22-24 at San Diego; Sept. 26-28, vs. Cincinnati.

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