Pete Crow-Armstrong may have strengthened his grip on the National League MVP race over the weekend, but the Chicago Cubs took a hit where it matters most for the standings. A two-out-of-three loss to the Cincinnati Reds has left them staring at a tougher path in the NL Central, just as a four-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers begins.
The Cubs now sit eight games behind Milwaukee in the division. And with seven meetings between the two clubs coming over the next two weeks, this stretch feels decisive.
If Chicago is going to keep the division conversation alive, it likely needs more than a series win. It probably needs a sweep.
Otherwise, the Brewers could shut the door on the Cubs for the third straight season.
The timing could hardly be worse for Chicago. The Cubs have now dropped three straight series, a skid that has not only pushed the division almost out of reach but also changed the shape of the National League Wild Card race.
Chicago and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the top wild card spot in the National League entering Monday. The Cubs do own the tiebreaker, thanks to winning six of seven against Philadelphia this season. That matters right now because it determines who would host the Wild Card series at Wrigley Field instead of Citizens Bank Park.
While the Cubs are busy with Milwaukee, the Phillies are lined up for a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who currently hold the final wild card spot in the National League. If the bracket held today, the Brewers and Atlanta Braves would get first-round byes, the Los Angeles Dodgers would host the Diamondbacks, and the Cubs would host the Phillies.
There is still a cushion in the race. The Cubs and Phillies remain 4.5 games ahead of Arizona. And even after the recent losses to the Seattle Mariners, Diamondbacks, and Reds, FanGraphs still gives Chicago better than a 98% chance to reach the playoffs.
So the sky is not falling. But in early September, the margins get thin fast, and the Cubs have just learned how quickly one rough week can change the conversation.
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The Cubs have already made clear they want Miller to show he can handle back-to-back days before they consider him truly ready, which makes every missed appearance worth watching. An update is expected after the roster expansion period begins, and until then his progress remains one of the quieter but more important bullpen storylines for a club trying to get its relief mix in order. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Just Turned Wrigley Nostalgia Into A Debate Fans Wont Ignore
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Cubs Give New Call-Up A Real Chance To Help Right Away
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Murray is expected to fill the designated hitter spot against left-hander Robert Gasser, a clear sign the Cubs want to see what he can do right away in a meaningful role. Chicago also added right-handed reliever Tyler Ferguson to the active roster, another move that bolsters the bullpen while the club continues to sort out its roster on the fly. [Read more 🡒]