Cubs’ Playoff Pursuit Gains Momentum After Giants Slip
The Chicago Cubs faced an unexpected offensive slump on Saturday, but their playoff aspirations received a boost from an unlikely source.
Offensive Challenges Against the Nationals
The Cubs (81-61) struggled to replicate the offensive prowess they showcased just a day earlier, managing only a single run in a narrow 2-1 defeat against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field. Carson Kelly’s RBI groundout marked the Cubs’ only score, leaving them unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd put forth a commendable performance, surrendering two earned runs over seven innings while allowing seven hits. Despite his solid outing, the Cubs’ bats were largely silent, forcing them to look elsewhere for assistance in their playoff race.
Magic Number Update After Giants’ Loss
Heading into Saturday’s match, the Cubs’ magic number to secure a playoff spot stood at 13. This number decreases with each victory, but without a win against the Nationals, Chicago needed outside help, particularly from the San Francisco Giants. The Giants, sitting just outside the wild card playoff picture, faced the St. Louis Cardinals that day. A loss for them would drop the Cubs’ magic number to 12.
As fate would have it, the Giants fell short, losing 3-2 to the Cardinals. This outcome allowed the Cubs to see their magic number shrink to 12, a small silver lining in an otherwise disappointing day.
NL Central Race Looking Grim
While the Cubs are finding ways to keep their playoff hopes alive, the NL Central title appears to be out of reach. The Milwaukee Brewers extended their lead over Chicago to 6.5 games with yet another victory. With no remaining head-to-head matchups between the two teams, the Cubs are left hoping for a significant losing streak from the Brewers—an unlikely scenario as the season winds down.
The Cubs are aiming for their first postseason appearance since 2020, when they clinched the NL Central title during a pandemic-affected season. That year marked the end of a five-playoff-berth streak within six seasons, a run highlighted by their memorable 2016 World Series championship.
Looking Ahead: Cubs’ Remaining Schedule
As the Cubs continue their playoff push, the focus shifts to their remaining 19 games. Here’s a look at their upcoming schedule:
Sept. 7: vs. Washington
Sept. 8-10: at Atlanta
Sept. 12-14: vs. Tampa Bay
Sept. 15-17: at Pittsburgh
Sept. 18-21: at Cincinnati
Sept. 23-25: vs. New York Mets
Sept. 26-28: vs. St. Louis
Current Standings in the NL Wild Card Race
As of now, the Cubs are sitting comfortably in the wild card standings:
Chicago Cubs: 81-61 (5.0 games ahead of the wild card cutoff)
San Diego Padres: 77-65 (1.0 game ahead of the wild card)
New York Mets: 76-66 (tied with the Padres)
San Francisco Giants: 72-70 (4.0 games behind the final berth)
NL Central Standings Update
In the division race, the standings are as follows:
Milwaukee Brewers: 88-55
Chicago Cubs: 81-61 (6.5 games behind)
Brewers’ Magic Number to Clinch NL Central: 14
Brewers’ Remaining Games: 19
As the Cubs navigate these final games of the regular season, every pitch, hit, and out will be critical in their pursuit of postseason glory.
