Everything that could have gone wrong for the Chicago Cubs’ quest to clinch a playoff berth did on Monday, as they lost their game to the Pittsburgh Pirates and watched as two of the teams potentially chasing them in the standings won.
The Milwaukee Brewers, who trailed in the sixth inning of their game against the St. Louis Cardinals, ultimately came back and won, trimming the Cubs’ lead in the Central Division to a game and a half and leaving the magic number stuck at five.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies continued their winning ways of late, beating the Philadelphia Phillies to move within a half-game of the Cardinals for the second wild card spot in the National League. The Rockies’ win also means the Cubs’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth still stands at two.
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What Could Happen Tuesday:
Fortunately for the Cubs, all the teams in the chase are in action on Tuesday, and Chicago still controls its own destiny. A Cubs win and a Rockies loss would clinch Chicago’s fourth-straight playoff berth, and would help maintain a gap in the Central no matter what the Brewers do in their game against St. Louis.
The big factor going into Tuesday’s action is the weather. Severe weather is possible in the Chicago-area, meaning that the Cubs could be dodging raindrops at Wrigley Field. They still have two games against the Pirates coming up on Wednesday and Thursday, but MLB would likely hesitate to schedule the Cubs for a doubleheader with only a handful of days left in the regular season.
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If the Playoffs Began Today:
The Cubs would be in position to take on the winner of the National League wild card game, as they still have the best record in the league. The Brewers and Cardinals currently occupy those spots, with Colorado just a half game behind.
The Rockies have a game in hand on both teams, meaning that they could gain that half game on Thursday when they play and the Cardinals are idle.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves, the lone National League team that has sewn up a playoff berth, would play the National League West winning-Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers currently have a game and a half lead on the Rockies, and the Braves have wrapped up the National League East crown.
