Welcome to Cubs Playoff Watch, your daily look at the Chicago Cubs as they continue to push toward their first division title since the 2008 season.

Cubs’ Magic Number: 22

Things didn’t look great for the Cubs on Friday night, as Mike Montgomery walked four batters and gave up three runs in five innings of work to leave the team trailing against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fortunately for Montgomery and the Cubs, the team’s clutch hitting was present in full force for the game. Both Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell had two out RBI in the game, and Kris Bryant also slugged a home run to help keep the Cubs within reach.

Jason Heyward then smashed a double and later scored to tie the game in the 9^th inning, and Bryant blasted his second home run of the night in the 10^th to help lead the Cubs to an extra inning win over the Dodgers.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, they were only able to shave their magic number by one, as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1. Jedd Gyorko hit his 22^nd home run of the season in the first inning of the game, and that was all that Luke Weaver needed as he pitched six innings and gave up just one run in the St. Louis victory.

Magic Number to Clinch Home Field: 28

Opening their series against the Colorado Rockies, the Washington Nationals kept pace with the Cubs on Friday as they picked up an 8-5 victory at Nationals Park.

Bryce Harper led the way for the Nationals in the game, hitting his first triple of the season and also adding a double as Washington slugged their way to a win. Jayson Werth and Daniel Murphy also drilled home runs for the Nationals, who now have an eight game lead in the National League East.

What’s Next:

The Cubs won’t have a lot of time to celebrate their victory, as they’ll be back at it Saturday in an afternoon game against the Dodgers. Jason Hammel will look to bounce back after an atrocious start Sunday against the Colorado Rockies, and he’ll be going up against youngster Julio Urias, whom gave up six runs in five innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field back in June.

The Nationals will also be playing an afternoon game on Saturday, with A.J. Cole facing off against Jorge De La Rosa in the second game of Washington’s series with the Rockies.

The Cardinals will look to continue their winning ways against Oakland on Saturday night at Busch Stadium when they send Alex Reyes to the hill against Zach Neal. The game will be Reyes’ first start for the Redbirds, as he’s made five relief appearances and given up just five hits in nine and a third innings of work.