The Chicago Cubs lost to the Miami Marlins on Sunday, but they’re still in prime position to reach the playoffs for the second straight year.
That’s because the Cubs still have a strong advantage in the National League wild card race, holding a big lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres with just 18 games remaining in the regular season.
Still, the road ahead for the Cubs will be challenging, and that road will start with a big three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers beginning Monday afternoon at American Family Field in Wisconsin.
Here are the current NL Central standings:
Milwaukee Brewers 88-56
Chicago Cubs 81-63 (7 GB)
Here are the current NL Wild Card standings:
Chicago Cubs 81-63
Philadelphia Phillies 80-63
Arizona Diamondbacks 76-68
San Diego Padres 75-68 (0.5 GB)
Miami Marlins 72-72 (4 GB)
St. Louis Cardinals 72-72 (4 GB)
What is the Cubs’ Magic Number?
As things stand entering action on Monday, the Cubs’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot in the National League stands at 13.
Normally the magic number is calculated by combining the number of wins a team has and the losses the team chasing them has, and then subtracting that number by 163. Since the Cubs hold tiebreakers over both the Diamondbacks and Padres, they would reach the playoffs even if they tied either of those teams, so the magic number is lowered by one for that reason.
What it Means for the Cubs
If the season were to end today, the Cubs would host the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field for a best-of-three series to kick off the National League playoffs. The Arizona Diamondbacks meanwhile would have the other wild card slot, and would face the Atlanta Braves, the winners of the National League Central.
Notably, the Cubs would still host the Phillies if they finished the regular season with the same record, since they posted a 6-1 record against Philadelphia during the regular season.
The Milwaukee Brewers are still ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the National League, and both would receive byes into the Division Series.
For the Cubs, they would have to face the Brewers in the NLDS if they were to defeat the Phillies.
The Road Ahead for the Cubs
The Cubs will start the week with a three-game series against the Brewers in Milwaukee, and they will have to face Jacob Misirowski on Tuesday, though they did touch him up for five runs in their last meeting at Wrigley Field.
After that three-game set, the final series of the season the Cubs have against the Brewers, they will head home for a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates starting on Friday, and then a three-game series against the Braves next week at Wrigley Field.
The Phillies are finishing a series against the Braves on Monday, then they’ll head home to face the Houston Astros beginning Tuesday. They’ll then wrap up their week by playing the Braves again, this time in Atlanta, beginning Friday.
The Diamondbacks will face the Royals and Rangers this week, while the Padres will tangle with the Nationals and Giants.
Hence then, the article about what is the cubs magic number and where are they in the mlb playoff race was published today ( ) and is available on NBC Chicago ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( What is the Cubs' magic number, and where are they in the MLB playoff race? )
Also on site :
- This Airline Just Upgraded Premium Economy With Full Privacy Screens, Electric Recline, and Wireless Charging
- France Launches Global Initiatives to Support Independent Cinema and Establish Framework for Alliance of State Film Commissions: Lumiere Summit
- Nuclear-capable warship that capsized when launched finally joins North Korea’s fleet