NEWSLETTER
Like we’ve said before this weekend, so long as the Cubs win against the Pirates, the other outcomes are all good.
So it was yesterday, with the Cubs beating the Pirates, and the Brewers beating the Cardinals this time. Thus, the Cubs have moved to 3.0 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central. With four games to go before the Cubs and Cardinals square off for a four-game set at Wrigley Field, it is entirely possible that lead could shrink further before that series starts – the Cubs get the Reds next, while the Cardinals get the Nationals (Strasburg, Corbin, Scherzer).
If the Cubs are, say, 2.0 games out when that four-gamer begins? The Cubs can then be tied atop the standings by winning that series. Want. (Note that I’m not getting greedy and hoping for a four-game sweep … )
But, before we get there, a mention of the Wild Card standings, which also improved for the Cubs yesterday. The Brewers stayed 1.0 games back with their win, but the Nationals lost again to the Braves, which means they’re only 1.5 games ahead of the Cubs for the top spot. So, again, if the Cubs can just take care of business against the Reds later this week, they’re going to see upward movement in one of their races regardless.
In other words, if the Cubs beat up on the Reds, they’ll enter that Cardinals series either right up on the Cardinals’ neck, or in the top Wild Card spot.
First things first, though. Gotta pull off the sweep today against the Pirates.
