163

Pickles edit:

Thank you Joe!

----
It's official: with the Brewers' win on Wednesday, the Cubs will miss the postseason for the first time since 2014. 

We'll recap the 2019 season after Sunday's game, and are looking forward to the 2020 season!

Go Cubs go!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

P.S.  Sign Castellanos!

11

It was a rough weekend in Chicago for the Cubs and their fans, as the North Siders dropped five consecutive one-run games for the first time in over 100 years. While a NL Central title is out of reach for 2019, an NL Wild Card berth is still possible, if unlikely. From here on out, we'll track that CMN.

Saturday's game was a battle from start to finish, highlighted by pinch-hit homers from Ian Happ and Tony Kemp. It also marked the end of an era, with WGN-TV broadcasting its final Cubs home game -- the Marquee Sports Network will broadcast all Cubs games in 2020 and beyond. WGN's nationwide reach created a generation or two of Cubs fans around the country.

Sunday's game was a pitcher's duel in an unrelenting rain, with Yu Darvish piling up 12 strikeouts along the way for the Cubs. It, too, marked the end of an era, as it was Wrigley Field organist Gary Pressy's final regular season game (yes, we're hoping for a miracle). His last two songs, played to a few hundred Wrigley faithful after the game?  "My Way" and, of course, an encore of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Thanks for 33 fun years, Gary.

Many speculate that Sunday's game might also have been the final regular season home game for several other notable Cubs, including Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant, and Joe Maddon. Time will tell. In any case, all three have been huge parts of the best stretch of Cubs baseball in more than a century.

The Cubs wrap up the 2019 regular season with a six-game road trip that kicks off in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. 156 games down, 6 to go.

GO CUBS GO!

 RFBleachers & SonicElwood

 Gary Pressy leading the stretch on Sunday

Zobrist thanking fans after Sunday's game

Photo Credits:  RFBleachers

E

Cubs lose 6 games in a row and are out of the central run. There is still a chance with the Wild Card. WC Magic Number is 11 with just 6 games left. The Cubs need a miracle.

14

Wednesday in the NL Central:  Cubs drop the series finale to Cincy 3-2 in extras, Cards win, Brewers lose.

The Cards come to town Thursday to kick off a HUGE four-game weekend series. Kyle Hendricks takes the mound for the North Siders.

152 games down, 10 to go. The Cubs Magic Number for an NL Wild Card berth is 11.

GO CUBS GO!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

14

Tuesday in the NL Central:  Cards lose, Brewers win, and the Cubs lose 4-2 to the Reds.

151 games down, 11 to go. The Cubs Magic Number to clinch an NL Wild Card berth is 12.

The Cubs-Reds series concludes Wednesday at Wrigley before the Cards come to town for a four-game weekend set.

GO CUBS GO!

15

Hey hey! The Cubs won their fifth straight game on Monday, downing the Reds 8-2 at Wrigley behind a three-run Schwarbomb and 2-for-4 nights from Zobrist & Contreras. That's 55 runs scored in the past four games for the Cubs.

The Cubs bullpen picked up Cole Hamels, who labored through 3 1/3 innings, by tossing 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball.

Meanwhile in the NL Central, the Cards beat the Nats and the Brewers beat the Padres.

150 regular season games down, 12 to go. The Cubs Magic Number for a NL Wild Card berth is 12.

The series continues Tuesday at Wrigley.

GO CUBS GO!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

16

Holy cow! Cubs win! Cubs sweep! The Cubs demolished the Bucs 16-6 on Sunday, completing a three-game sweep during which they scored 47 runs. Sunday's offensive barrage was led by Kris Bryant's TWO home runs along with homers by Happ, Schwarber, and Lucroy.

The offense picked up Jose Quintana, who gave up five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings, and Anthony Rizzo, who left the game early with a sprained ankle. (X-rays were negative; an MRI is scheduled for Monday.) 

KB, Castellanos, and Schwarbs each went 3-for-5; Nick is now hitting .335 as a Cub, with 15 doubles and 15 homers in 41 games.

Meanwhile in the NL Central, the Brewers came back to beat the Cards. The Cubs Magic Number for a NL Wild Card berth is 13.

The Cubs kick off a three-game series against the Reds at Wrigley on Monday before the Cards come to town for a four-game weekend set. 149 games down, 13 to go.

GO CUBS GO!

18

Hey hey! The Cubs downed the Bucs 14-1 at Wrigley on Saturday behind a QS from Kyle Hendricks (6 IP, 2 K, 1 ER) and FOUR HRs (Zo, KB, Nico, & Vic). Hoerner drove in three and is now batting .417 to start his MLB career.

Meanwhile in the NL Central, the Cards lost to the Brewers.

The Cubs-Pirates series wraps up on Sunday at the Friendly Confines. 148 games down, 14 to go.

The Cubs Magic Number for a Wild Card berth is 14.

GO CUBS GO!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs 

19

20

Holy cow! The Cubs thrashed the Bucs 17-8 on Friday at Wrigley behind a grand slam from Rizzo and 4 RBI from Nico Hoerner, including his first MLB homer -- in his Wrigley debut.

Rizzo had a 3-for-5 day in the leadoff spot, Castellanos went 2-for-4 with a homer and 3 RBI, Contreras homered and went 3-for-4, Hoerner's 2-for-5 day raised his average to .350, and Almora went 2-for-3.

Brad Wieck struck out the side in the 6th, and Alec Mills held the Pirates to one run over the final three innings to pick up his first save of the season.

Elsewhere in the NL Central, the Cards shut out the Brewers 10-0, creating a bit of separation between the Cubs and Brewers for the second NL Wild Card berth.

The Cubs Magic Number for a Wild Card berth is 15.

147 games down, 15 to go. 

GO CUBS GO!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

20

Hey hey! The Cubs beat the Padres 4-1 on Thursday behind a fantastic start from Yu Darvish (6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 14 K) and a clutch two-run single from Ian Happ.

The win helped the Cubs keep pace with the Cards and Brewers, who also won their games on Thursday.

The Cubs now head home for a ten-game homestand against the Bucs, Reds, and Cards. 146 games down, 16 to go. The Cubs Magic Number for a Wild Card berth is 17.

GO CUBS GO!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

Mr. Pickles chiming in: Huge day on Friday. It was like a football score. 8-17 over the Pirates, 19 for the WC but actually the way it now works it's really 16 for the one game playoff.

22

Wednesday in the NL Central:  Padres shut out the Cubs 4-0, Brewers win, and the Cards lose, lowering the CMN. The series wraps up in San Diego on Thursday before the Cubs head home for a ten-game homestand.

143 games in the books, 19 left. The Cubs Magic Number to secure a Wild Card berth is 18.

GO CUBS GO!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

23

The Cubs dropped a heartbreaker in San Diego Tuesday night, but the Cards also dropped their game to the Rockies, lowering the CMN. The Cubs-Padres series continues Wednesday at Petco Park.

143 games down, 19 to go. The Cubs Magic Number for a Wild Card berth is 18.

GO CUBS GO!

24

Holy cow! The Cubs crushed the Padres 10-2 on Monday night behind Nico Hoerner's stellar MLB debut:  3-for-5 with a triple and 4 RBI. Hoerner started the game at short, having been called up due to recent injuries to both Javy Baez and Addison Russell. 

Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks struck out five and allowed only one earned run in 5 2/3 innings of work, and the Cubs' bullpen held the Friars scoreless for the duration.

Nick Castellanos also went 3-for-5 with a HR and 2 RBI, raising his average to .347 as a Cub, Jason Heyward had a 2-for-3 night, and Kyle Schwarber went 2-for-5 with a HR. That's Cub.

The series continues Tuesday in San Diego. 143 games down, 19 to go. The Cubs Magic Number for a Wild Card berth is 18.

GO CUBS GO!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

25

Ah, meaningful September baseball. If you've been a Cubs fan for decades, meaningful September baseball is something to be savored. And five consecutive years of meaningful September baseball is impressive under any circumstances.

As of this writing, the Cubs sit 4.5 games behind the Cardinals for the NL Central lead and 1.5 games ahead of the Diamondbacks for the second Wild Card spot. Chicago and St. Louis face off seven more times before the end of the regular season, in two series that could tip the scales of the NL Central race.  Four of those games will be at Wrigley.

Aside from those seven games, the Cubs have a more favorable schedule from here on out, facing the Padres, Pirates, and Reds -- sub-.500 teams all but out of the wild card chase -- while the Cards face the Rockies, Brewers, Nationals, and Diamondbacks. Three of those four teams are over .500 and in the thick of the playoff hunt. Ten of the Cubs' final 20 games are at home while nine of the Cards' final 19 games are at home.

While this site focuses on winning the NL Central title, we'll now also include the Cubs Magic Number to clinch a wild card spot. As of Monday morning, that number is 19.

Here's hoping that the Cubs can make up some ground on the Cards during the four-game series in San Diego that starts today. 142 games down, 20 to go.

GO CUBS GO!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs / MLB

25

The Cubs dropped Friday's game to the Brewers, but the Cards' loss dropped the CMN.

Game three of the Cubs-Brewers series starts at 6:10 p.m. Central Time on Saturday. 

Go Cubs go!

26

Holy cow! The Cubs downed the Brewers 10-5 on Thursday night behind a grand slam from Schwarber, 3 RBI from Rizzo, a 4-for-5 night from Contreras, and a 3-for-3 night from Zobrist.

Schwarber is slashing .300 / .406 / .722 since August 1st, and Zobrist reached base in all five PAs from the leadoff spot. David Bote's solo HR capped off the Cubs' scoring.

Game two of the four-game series is Friday at Miller Park. 139 games down, 23 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs

27

Hey hey! The Giants beat the Cards on Wednesday night, lowering the CMN. The Cubs had the day off but will be back in action Thursday against the Brewers at Miller Park.

138 games down, 24 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

28

Holy cow! The Cubs beat the Mariners 6-1 on Tuesday at Wrigley to sweep the season series. Jon Lester set the pace (6 IP, 0 ER, 9 K), and Castellanos, Contreras, and Schwarber each homered for the North Siders.

Both Ben Zobrist (1-for-3, BB, 2 R) and Willson Contreras (2-for-3, BB) returned to the lineup,  while Castellanos drove in four and Schwarber went 3-for-3 to fuel the offense.

Wednesday is an off day for the Cubs, who kick off an eight-game road trip in Milwaukee on Thursday. 138 games down, 24 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs