NEWSLETTER
The Cubs won twice yesterday, so they were going to gain some ground no matter what …
The Cardinals and Reds were tied at 2 heading into the 8th when their game was suspended. It will resume later this morning. So, for now, the Cubs bump up a full game on the Cardinals, whom they trail by 6.0 games. If they’d won the Peralta homer game, the early season game they went up 5-0 on Carlos Martinez, and the game they blew on Wednesday, the Cubs would now be tied with the Cardinals atop the NL Central standings. Coulda-woulda-shoulda always cuts a million different ways, but, since those were heartbreaking head-to-head losses, it’s a little more pertinent. And a little more painful.
Hopefully the Reds can pull that one out.
Meanwhile, the Brewers went up 2-0 in the first on the Pirates, but the Pirates cruised from there, winning 6-3. That put the Pirates 4.0 games behind the Cardinals for now. The Cubs are just 2.0 games behind the Pirates.
The Nationals lost again, this time to the Marlins, and their season is toast. The Giants won and the Dodgers lost, keeping the Giants’ hopes in the West faintly alive (7.5 out). The Giants are 9.5 games behind the Cubs, though.
The Cubs’ magic number for a Wild Card spot is down to just 13.
