It’s that time of year again.
Well, actually, if we’re honest with ourselves, it became this time months ago. That is to say, it’s time to keep an eye on the old scoreboard to see how the various playoff contenders are doing, and how it impacts the Cubs’ playoff race.
To that end, with the Cubs losing again last night, each of the Brewers and Cardinals had an opportunity to gain ground, but only the Cardinals took advantage. The Dodgers are slumping hard, and the Cardinals beat them for a second straight night. That brings them to within 2.5 games of the Cubs, though they’re still four games back in the loss column.
The Brewers lost late to the Reds, with the lead run coming on a Scooter Gennett homer (remember when the Brewers let him go to the Reds for nothing and he became an All-Star?). They remain 3.0 games behind the Cubs.
Each of the other NL Central teams are currently holding the Wild Card spots in the NL – who’da thunk that a few weeks ago? – with each of the Rockies and Phillies just a half-game back. The Dodgers are now 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. The other divisional races are far from settled, though (Phillies 2.0 games back of the Braves, Rockies 1.5 games back of the Diamondbacks, Dodgers 3.5 games back of the Diamondbacks), so that’s all going to impact the Wild Card race, too, before it’s all said and done. Hopefully the Cubs do not impact that race by dropping themselves into it.
The Cardinals play the Dodgers again tonight, and the Brewers host the Reds again this afternoon.