Chicago Cubs Cut Magic Number for NL Playoff Berth

The Chicago Cubs can start feeling a little more comfortable about their chances of clinching a National League Wild Card berth.

The Cubs claimed a 6-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, a win that gave them a bit more stability in the race for the final Wild Card berth. Entering Sunday, the Cubs are now a game ahead of the Miami Marlins, who are playing the Milwaukee Brewers through Sunday.

Plus, the Cubs drew within a half-game of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who were unable to play on Saturday due to Tropical Storm Ophelia. The D-Backs will now play the New York Yankees on Sunday and Monday.

What Saturday’s action did was cut the Cubs’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth to seven, so there is still a lot of work ahead.

As for the NL Central race, it is all but decided. The Marlins’ win over the Brewers only delayed the inevitable. Milwaukee only needs one more win, or Cubs loss, to clinch the division.

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. 24

Friday’s Results

Miami 5, Milwaukee 4

Chicago Cubs 6, Colorado 3

Standings

Milwaukee (88-67): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 1)

Chicago Cubs (81-74): 7.0 GB

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (7): Sunday: at Miami (1); Tuesday-Thursday: vs. St. Louis (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Chicago Cubs (3)

Chicago Cubs (7): Sunday: vs. Colorado (1); Tuesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 24

Saturday’s Results

Philadelphia 7, New York Mets 5

Chicago Cubs 6, Colorado 3

Miami 5, Milwaukee 4

Pittsburgh 13, Cincinnati 12

Arizona vs. New York Yankees, ppd, rain (will be made up on Monday)

Standings

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (86-69): +5.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 2; Magic Number to clinch top Wild Card berth: 3)

Arizona (81-73): — +0.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 7)

Chicago Cubs (81-74): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 7)

Miami (80-75): — 1.0 GB

Cincinnati (79-77): — 2.5 GB

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (7): Sunday: vs. New York Mets (1); Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (7): Sunday: vs. Colorado (1); Tuesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

Arizona (8): Sunday-Monday: at New York Yankees (2); Monday-Wednesday: at Chicago White Sox (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (6): Sunday: vs. Pittsburgh (1); Tuesday-Wednesday: at Cleveland (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (7): Sunday: vs. Milwaukee (1); Tuesday-Thursday: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pittsburgh (3)