Chicago Cubs Sweep Fuels Pursuit of NL Central Lead, Wild Card

The Chicago Cubs are on a tear and it’s only improving their chances of making it to the postseason and, perhaps, winning the National League Central.

The Cubs’ 8-2 win over San Francisco on Wednesday was the Cubs’ fourth straight victory. More importantly from a NL Central perspective, the Cubs were able to gain a game on the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cubs now head to Arizona for a four-game series with the Diamondbacks having put one of their Wild Card pursuers, the Giants, on the defensive. The Cubs now hope to do the same to the Diamondbacks, who are within striking distance of the last Wild Card berth.

While the Cubs are in Arizona, the Brewers head to New York for a series with the resurgent Yankees starting on Friday.

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. 7

Wednesday’s Results

Pittsburgh 5, Milwaukee 4

Chicago Cubs 8, San Francisco 2

Milwaukee (77-62): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 22)

Chicago Cubs (76-64): 1.5 games back

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (23): Friday-Sunday: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 11-14: vs. Miami (4); Sept. 15-17: vs. Washington (3); Sept. 18-21: at St. Louis (4); Sept. 22-24: at Miami (3); Sept. 26-28: vs. St. Louis (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Chicago Cubs (3)

Chicago Cubs (22): Thursday-Sunday: vs. Arizona (4); Sept. 11-13: at Colorado (3); Sept. 15-17: at Arizona (3); Sept. 19-21: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 26-28: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 7

Wednesday’s Results

Chicago Cubs 8, San Francisco 2

Philadelphia 5, San Diego 1

Seattle 8, Cincinnati 4

Miami 11, Los Angeles Dodgers 4

Arizona 12, Colorado 5

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (77-62): +5.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 17)

Chicago Cubs (76-64): +3.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 18)

Miami (72-67): — (Magic Number to clinch: 22)

Arizona (72-68): 0.5 Games Back

Cincinnati (73-68): 0.5 Games Back

San Francisco (70-70): 2.5 Games back

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (23): Friday-Sunday: vs. Miami (3); Sept. 11-13: vs. Atlanta (4); Sept. 15-17: at St. Louis (3); Sept. 18-20: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 21-24: vs. New York Mets (4); Sept. 26-28: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (23): Thursday-Sunday: vs. Arizona (4); Sept. 11-13: at Colorado (3); Sept. 15-17: at Arizona (3); Sept. 19-21: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 26-28: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

Arizona (22): Thursday-Sunday: at Chicago Cubs (4); Sept. 11-14: at New York Mets (4); Sept. 15-17: vs. Chicago Cubs (3); Sept. 19-20: vs. San Francisco (2); Sept. 22-24: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 25-27: at Chicago White Sox (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (20): Friday-Sunday: vs. St. Louis (3); Sept. 12-14: at Detroit (3); Sept. 15-17: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 18-20: vs. Minnesota (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 26-27: at Cleveland (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (23): Friday-Sunday: at Philadelphia (3); Sept. 11-14: at Milwaukee (4); Sept. 15-17: vs. Atlanta (3); Sept. 18-20: vs. New York Mets (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Milwaukee (3); Sept. 26-28: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pittsburgh (3)

San Francisco (22): Friday-Sunday: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 11-13: vs. Cleveland (3); Sept. 14-17: at Colorado (4); Sept. 19-20: at Arizona (2); Sept. 21-24: at Los Angeles Dodgers (4); Sept. 25-27: vs. San Diego (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3)