Chicago Cubs Put Wild Card Playoff Hopes On Line vs. Colorado

There was no good news for the Chicago Cubs in the aftermath of their 8-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

First, the National League Central race is all but done. The Cubs’ loss, combined with Milwaukee’s 6-0 win over St. Louis, has basically put an end to the Cubs’ dream of catching the Brewers, something that was within reach a few weeks ago.

Second, the Cubs fell into a tie for the final Wild Card berth with Miami. Now, the Cubs are two games behind Arizona for the second Wild Card berth and just one game ahead of Cincinnati. The race is tight enough to where the Cubs have to start worrying about the potential of missing the postseason entirely.

The Cubs have to use this weekend’s series with Colorado to their advantage. Their last week is on the road and will feature a series with Atlanta — the best team in the National League — and the Brewers.

It’s not a favorable stretch for the Cubs to end the season.

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. 22

Thursday’s Results

Milwaukee 6, St. Louis 0

Pittsburgh 8, Chicago Cubs 6

Standings

Milwaukee (87-66): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 2)

Chicago Cubs (79-74): 8.0 GB

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (9): Friday-Sunday: at Miami (3); Sept. 26-28: vs. St. Louis (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Chicago Cubs (3)

Chicago Cubs (9): 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. 22

Thursday’s Results

Philadelphia 5, New York Mets 4

Pittsburgh 8, Chicago Cubs 6

Arizona, idle

Cincinnati, idle

Miami, idle

Standings

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (84-69): +5.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 5)

Arizona (81-72): — +2.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 8)

Miami (79-74): — (Magic Number to clinch: 10)

Chicago Cubs (79-74): — (Magic Number to clinch: 10)

Cincinnati (79-75): — 1.0 GB

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (9): Friday-Sunday: vs. New York Mets (3); Sept. 26-28: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (9): Friday-Sunday: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 26-28: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

Arizona (9): Friday-Sunday: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 25-27: at Chicago White Sox (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (8): Friday-Sunday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 26-27: at Cleveland (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (9): Friday-Sunday: vs. Milwaukee (3); Sept. 26-28: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pittsburgh (3)