Chicago Cubs Losing Streak Hurting NL Wild Card Hopes

It is probably time for the Chicago Cubs to stop worrying about the National League Central and start worrying about holding on to a Wild Card berth.

The Cubs lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-2, on Sunday, a loss that led the Cubs (78-72) to be swept by the Diamondbacks (79-72).

What’s worse for the Cubs is that they dropped from the second Wild Card berth and into the third Wild Card berth and they are now in a tie with the Miami Marlins for that final berth.

That’s a big problem for the Cubs. Why? The Marlins have a 4-2 edge in their season series, and by virtue of that the Marlins have the tiebreaker.

That would leave the Cubs out of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Cubs’ loss, combined with the Brewers’ loss, trimmed Milwaukee’s magic number to clinch the division to seven.

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. 18

Sunday’s Results

Arizona 6, Chicago Cubs 2

Washington 2, Milwaukee 1

Milwaukee (84-65): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 7)

Chicago Cubs (78-72): 6.5 GB

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (13): Monday-Thursday: at St. Louis (4); Friday-Sunday: at Miami (3); Sept. 26-28: vs. St. Louis (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Chicago Cubs (3)

Chicago Cubs (12): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 26-28: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 18

Sunday’s Results

St. Louis 6, Philadelphia 5

Arizona 6, Chicago Cubs 2

New York Mets 8, Cincinnati 4

Miami 16, Atlanta 2

San Francisco 11, Colorado 10

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (81-68): +3.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 10)

Arizona (79-72): — +0.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 12)

Miami (78-72): — (Magic Number to clinch: 13)

Chicago Cubs (78-72): — (Magic Number to clinch: 13)

Cincinnati (78-73): — 0.5 GB

San Francisco (76-74): — 2.0 GB

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (13): Monday-Wednesday: at Atlanta (3); Thursday-Sunday: vs. New York Mets (4); Sept. 26-28: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (12): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 26-28: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

Arizona (11): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. San Francisco (2); Friday-Sunday: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 25-27: at Chicago White Sox (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (11): Monday-Wednedsay: vs. Minnesota (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 26-27: at Cleveland (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (12): Monday-Wednesday: vs. New York Mets (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Milwaukee (3); Sept. 26-28: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pittsburgh (3)

San Francisco (12): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Arizona (2); Thursday-Sunday: at Los Angeles Dodgers (4); Sept. 25-27: vs. San Diego (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3)