Chicago Cubs Get Breathing Room in NL Wild Card Race

The Chicago Cubs now have a hold on the final Wild Card berth in the National League playoff race, thanks to their win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday and a couple of other fortuitous results.

First, even though the Milwaukee Brewers are on the doorstep of winning the National League Central — they only need one more win or Cubs loss — they did the Cubs a giant favor by pulverizing the Miami Marlins, 16-1, and helping the Cubs to a one-game lead over the field for the final berth.

Second, the New York Yankees beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing the Cubs to close within a game of tying the D-Backs for the second Wild Card berth.

Does it make a difference? Well, the second Wild Card berth would likely play Philadelphia. The third Wild Card berth would likely play Milwaukee.

It’s sort of a pick-your-poison situation. But the Cubs can ill-afford many more losses at this point, as the margin for error with eight games left grows smaller each game.

For now, they have a foot in the race.

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. 23

Friday’s Results

Milwaukee 16, Miami 1

Chicago Cubs 6, Colorado 0

Standings

Milwaukee (88-66): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 1)

Chicago Cubs (80-74): 8.0 GB

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (8): Saturday-Sunday: at Miami (2); Tuesday-Thursday: vs. St. Louis (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Chicago Cubs (3)

Chicago Cubs (8): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Colorado (2); Tuesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 23

Friday’s Results

Philadelphia 5, New York Mets 4 (10 innings)

Chicago Cubs 6, Colorado 0

New York Yankees 7, Arizona 1

Pittsburgh 7, Cincinnati 5

Milwaukee 16, Miami 1

Standings

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (85-69): +5.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 4)

Arizona (81-73): — +1.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 7)

Chicago Cubs (80-74): — (Magic Number to clinch: 8)

Miami (79-75): — 1.0 GB

Cincinnati (79-76): — 1.5 GB

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (8): Saturday-Sunday: vs. New York Mets (2); Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (8): Friday-Sunday: vs. Colorado (2); Tuesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

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

Cincinnati (7): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Pittsburgh (2); Tuesday-Wednesday: at Cleveland (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (8): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Milwaukee (2); Tuesday-Thursday: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pittsburgh (3)