Chicago Cubs Focused Ahead of Big Matchup With Brewers

The Chicago Cubs know they need to play well in the final series of the regular season as their postseason lives depend on it. They have no choice but to focus on this big series against their division rival Milwaukee Brewers.

Three straight losses that the Chicago Cubs suffered at the hands of the Atlanta Braves were a big blow to their postseason chances.

Much of it was self inflicted.

Mistakes by fielders, blown leads by pitchers and not having the quality to defeat the best team in the National League came at the worst time.

But, they still have an opportunity to make the MLB Playoffs.

The Cubs are only a half-game back in the Wild Card standings entering their series with the Milwaukee Brewers starting Friday.

They'll have to lean on the aspects of their game that got them to this point in of season where they are competing for an opportunity to play in the postseason.

"We've got to play clean baseball. We're better when we do that, right? The pitching and defense, that's been our signature when we're having success," manager David Ross told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com."

That may seem like an obvious statement, but it's what has plagued Chicago during their losing stretch.

For what it's worth, Braves third baseman Austin Riley praised the Cubs after the series was over, saying they're close to getting over the hump.

"They’re a good team. They’re not far off,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of good pitching and a lot of good players.

The key for Chicago is piecing every element together during this final three-game stretch.

Sometimes the hitting is good and the pitching is bad. Sometimes the hitting is good and the pitching is bad. Sometimes, like against the Braves, both have struggles at the same time.

It's time for them to have both units playing good baseball.

"We’ve got no choice," shortstop Dansby Swanson said.

They really don't, because it they can't find it, the team that was firmly in the postseason at the start of the month will be watching October baseball from home.