Chicago Cubs Wild Card Race Tightens After Loss to Diamondbacks

The Chicago Cubs lost their second straight game to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, falling 1-0.

For the Cubs (76-66) and the Diamondbacks (74-68), both would make the Wild Card playoffs if they started today. But each are still in chase mode for the playoffs.

The Cubs, of course, can also catch the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central race, but the Brewers took care of the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium and built a little more cushion in their pursuit of the division crown.

Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Miami were also in action on Friday, with Philly and Miami facing each other.

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. 9

Friday’s Results

Arizona 1, Chicago Cubs 0

Milwaukee 8, New York Yankees 2

Milwaukee (78-62): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 19)

Chicago Cubs (76-66): 3 games back

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (22): Saturday-Sunday: at New York Yankees (2); Monday-Thursday: 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 (20): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Arizona (2); Monday-Wednesday: 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. 9

Friday’s Results

Arizona 1, Chicago Cubs 0

Miami 3, Philadelphia 2

St. Louis 9, Cincinnati 4

Colorado vs. San Francisco

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (77-63): +4.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 18)

Chicago Cubs (76-66): +2.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 19)

Arizona (74-68): — (Magic Number to clinch: 21)

Miami (73-68): 0.5 Games Back

Cincinnati (73-70): 1.5 Games Back

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (22): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Miami (2); Monday-Wednesday: 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)

Arizona (20): Saturday-Sunday: at Chicago Cubs (2); Monday-Thursday: 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 (19): Saturday-Sunday: vs. St. Louis (2); Tuesday-Thursday: 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 (21): Saturday-Sunday: at Philadelphia (2); Monday-Thursday: 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)