Chicago Cubs Know Playoff Magic Number Entering Atlanta Series

The Chicago Cubs had the day off on Monday, but the race to a National League playoff berth heats back up on Tuesday.

The Cubs are focused on trying to clinch one of the National League Wild Card berths, all three of which are still in play. Philadelphia could clinch a playoff berth, and potentially the top Wild Card berth, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Cubs go into the final week of the season with a tenuous hold on the third and final Wild Card berth. They are one game ahead of Miami and 2.5 games ahead of Cincinnati.

The Cubs also have to keep an eye on Arizona, which was one game ahead of Chicago before Monday's loss to the New York Yankees. Now, the two teams are tied for the second and third Wild Card berths and each has a magic number of six.

That magic number is based on the number of games the Cubs need to win and could be influenced by losses by Miami and Cincinnati.

Meanwhile it would take an unprecedented collapse by Milwaukee for the Cubs to draw into a tie in the NL Central. The Brewers have already clinched a playoff berth and only need one more victory to clinch the division.

At this point, Milwaukee would need to lose its final six games and the Cubs would need to win their final six to force a tie. It's unlikely, but it bears watching until the Brewers win again.

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. 26

Monday’s Results

Milwaukee, idle

Chicago Cubs, idle

Standings

Milwaukee (88-68): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 1)

Chicago Cubs (82-74): 6.0 GB

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (6): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. St. Louis (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Chicago Cubs (3)

Chicago Cubs (6): Tuesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (3); Friday-Sunday: at Milwaukee (3)

The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 26

Monday’s Results

New York Yankees 6, Arizona 4

Philadelphia, idle

Chicago Cubs, idle

Cincinnati, idle

Miami, idle

Standings

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (87-69): +5.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 1)

Arizona (82-74): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 6)

Chicago Cubs (82-74): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 6)

Miami (81-75): — 1.0 GB

Cincinnati (80-77): — 2.5 GB

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (6): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Friday-Sunday: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (6): Tuesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (3); Friday-Sunday: at Milwaukee (3)

Arizona (6): Tuesday-Thursday: at Chicago White Sox (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (5): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Cleveland (2); Friday-Sunday: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (6): Tuesday-Thursday: at New York Mets (3); Friday-Sunday: at Pittsburgh (3)