Chicago Cubs Blow Chance to Cut Magic Number vs. Atlanta

There wasn’t much good news for the Chicago Cubs after Tuesday’s action.

The Cubs lost to the Atlanta Braves, 7-6, after leading, 6-0. A win would have trimmed their National League Wild Card number by one.

While the Cubs blew that game, the Milwaukee Brewers lost to St. Louis, 4-1. But, with the Cubs’ loss, the Brewers clinched the National League Central title. Had the Cubs won, it would have kept that faint dream of catching the Brewers alive for one more game.

Then, the Philadelphia Phillies won, putting the top Wild Card berth out of reach as the Phillies clinched.

Finally, Arizona demolished the Chicago White Sox, 15-4, to move a game ahead of the Cubs for the second Wild Card berth with five games to play.

Yep, nothing went right. The only good news? Because the Miami Marlins were rained out, the Cubs held onto the No. 3 Wild Card berth by one-half game. For now.

Below is an update on the race, with the current standings, magic numbers to clinch a Wild Card berth and the remaining schedules for the teams that are still in the race.

The NL Central Race as of Sept. 27

Tuesday’s Results

St. Louis 4, Milwaukee 1

Atlanta 7, Chicago Cubs 6

Standings

Milwaukee (88-69): — (Clinched NL Central title on Tuesday)

Chicago Cubs (82-75): 6.0 GB

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (5): Wednesday-Thursday: vs. St. Louis (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. Chicago Cubs (3)

Chicago Cubs (5): Wednesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (2); Friday-Sunday: at Milwaukee (3)

The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 27

Tuesday’s results

Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 2

Arizona 15, Chicago White Sox 4

Atlanta 7, Chicago Cubs 6

Cincinnati 11, Cleveland 7

Miami vs. New York Mets, ppd, rain (will play doubleheader on Wednesday)

Standings

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (88-69): +6.0 Games (Will be No. 4 seed in playoffs)

Arizona (83-74): — +1.0 GB (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 5)

Chicago Cubs (82-75): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 6)

Miami (81-75): — 0.5 GB

Cincinnati (81-77): — 1.5 GB

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (5): Wednesday-Thursday: vs. Pittsburgh (2); Friday-Sunday: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (5): Wednesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (2); Friday-Sunday: at Milwaukee (3)

Arizona (5): Wednesday-Thursday: at Chicago White Sox (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (4): Wednesday: at Cleveland (1); Friday-Sunday: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (6): Wednesday-Thursday: at New York Mets (3); Friday-Sunday: at Pittsburgh (3)