At least the Cubs won yesterday to split with the Padres. It can always be worse, right!?!? Please don’t try to prove me correct, universe.
The Cardinals and Brewers also closed off their series with wins, meaning it’s status quo in the Central, with the Cardinals holding a sizable 4.0-game lead over both teams. If the Cubs can’t make up a game this weekend, it’s going to be very difficult, realistically, to come back, even with the seven head-to-head games.
Speaking of the weekend, the Cubs will be hosting the Pirates, while the Cardinals are hosting the Brewers. In other words, the Cubs can guarantee themselves either making up ground on the Cardinals or building a lead over the Brewers … if they can win some games.
Ideal scenario? Cubs sweep (obviously), and Brewers take two of three from the Cardinals. That would leave the Cubs a game ahead of the Brewers (just in case – their schedule is cake), and only two games behind the Cardinals.
Elsewhere, the Nationals, Mets, and Phillies all also won, so they stay where they were: Nats up 3.5 for WC1, Phillies and Mets 2.0 back of the Cubs and Brewers for WC2. The Diamondbacks are 3.5 back.