24

Well, that's it for 2023:  it's officially "wait 'til next year" time. With their victory on the final Saturday of the regular season, the Marlins clinched an NL Wild Card berth and eliminated the Cubs from postseason play.

We'll do a 2023 season postmortem here sometime after the regular season ends, and we'll reset the Cubs Magic Number to 163 next spring.

Thanks for following. Go Cubs go!

5

On Friday, the Marlins beat the Pirates and the Cubs lost to Milwaukee.

With two games left for the Cubs here is the only remaining scenario that would lead to a Wild Card berth for the Cubs (spoiler alert: it's not pretty):

•Cubs win 2, Marlins lose 3, and Reds lose 1

160 games down, 2 to go. GO CUBS GO!

5

On Friday, the Marlins beat the Pirates, the Cubs are in action in Milwaukee, and Arizona is hosting the Astros. Stay tuned.

With three games left for the Cubs, Diamondbacks, Reds, and Marlins, here are the remaining scenarios that would lead to a Wild Card berth for the Cubs (spoiler alert: it's not pretty):

•Cubs win 3, Diamondbacks lose 3

•Cubs win 3, Marlins lose 2

•Cubs win 2, Marlins lose 3, and Reds lose 1

159 games down, 3 to go. GO CUBS GO!

5

The Cubs dropped the series finale in Atlanta on Thursday. The Marlins-Mets game has been suspended until Monday due to rain.

With three games left for the Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Reds, and with four games remaining for the Marlins, here are the remaining scenarios that would lead to a Wild Card berth for the Cubs (spoiler alert:  it's not pretty):

•Cubs win 3, Diamondbacks lose 3

•Cubs win 3, Marlins lose 2
•Cubs win 2, Marlins lose 3, and Reds lose 1

•Cubs win 1, Marlins lose 4, and Reds lose 2

The men in blue head to Wrigley North for a three-game weekend series that starts Friday.

159 games down, 3 to go.  GO CUBS GO!

 

5

Well, the Marlins lost one of two games of their Wednesday doubleheader against the Mets, but the Cubs lost another heartbreaker in Atlanta, giving the Marlins a one-game advantage in the chase for the third and final NL Wild Card berth.

 

Although the two teams have identical records after Wednesday's action, the Marlins hold the tiebreaker, as they won the regular season series against the North Siders.

 

With four games left for the Cubs and Marlins, and with three games left for the Diamondbacks and Reds, here are the scenarios that would earn the Cubs a Wild Card berth:

•Cubs win 4, Marlins lose 1
•Cubs win 4, Diamondbacks lose 2
•Cubs win 3, Diamondbacks lose 3

•Cubs win 3, Marlins lose 2
•Cubs win 2, Marlins lose 3 and Reds lose 1

•Cubs win 1, Marlins lose 4 and Reds lose 2

The finale of the Cubs-Braves series is underway in Atlanta. Stay tuned.

158 games down, 4 to go.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

6

Well, that was awful. Cubs blow a six-run lead on Tuesday, Brewers win the NL Central.

This page now tracks the Cubs' magic number to secure an NL Wild Card berth.

Back at it in Atlanta on Wednesday.  157 games down, 5 to go.

GO CUBS GO!

12

The Cubbies sweep the Rockies for the last home stand of the season! This one was huge as all the teams in the wild card hunt also won today. 

 

The Brewers did lose, which keeps the North Siders in the hunt for the division.

 

The Cubs have Monday off before heading to Atlanta. 

 

Cubs Magic Number for the NL Central Division title:  12

 

Cubs Magic Number for an NL Wild Card berth:  6

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

Note:  in the event of ties in the standings at the end of the regular season, MLB will no longer have "Game 163" tiebreakers. Instead, regular season head-to-head records will be used to break the tie. If the Cubs were to win their next six games, and if the Brewers were to lose their next six games, the Cubs would win the regular season series 8-5 and would win the division.

14

The Cubbies took down the Rockies again on Saturday, and the Brewers fell to the Marlins, so both the division and wild card numbers drop. 155 games down, 7 to go.

 

The Cubs elimination number for the division is 1, so chances are good that in the next few days only the wild card number will matter. Until then...

 

Cubs Magic Number for the NL Central Division title:  14

 

Cubs Magic Number for an NL Wild Card berth:  7

Note:  in the event of ties in the standings at the end of the regular season, MLB will no longer have "Game 163" tiebreakers. Instead, regular season head-to-head records will be used to break the tie. If the Cubs were to win their next seven games, and if the Brewers were to lose their next seven games, the Cubs would win the regular season series 8-5 and would win the division.

17

Hey hey! The Cubs shut out the Rockies 6-0 on Friday behind a quality start from Taillon (6 IP, 7 K) and a 3-for-4, three RBI day from Suzuki. 

 

Suzuki hit a two-run homer, and Jared Young also added a two-run blast for the North Siders. The bullpen got the job done, as Smyly and Wesneski combined for three innings of two-hit ball.

The Marlins lost to the Brewers in Milwaukee on Friday night, and the Cubs-Rockies series continues Saturday at Wrigley.

154 games down, 8 to go.

Cubs Magic Number for the NL Central Division title:  17

 

Cubs Magic Number for an NL Wild Card berth:  8

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

18

The Cubbies fell to the Pirates on Wednesday in what looked more like batting practice than a game, but luckily the Marlins and the Reds lost their games as well, so the Cubs remain in sole possession of the third wild card spot. The wild card magic number drops to 10 with 10 games to go. Let's go!

Cubs Magic Number for an NL Central Division title:  18

 

Cubs Magic Number for an NL Wild Card berth:  10

18

Holy cow! The Cubs crushed the Pirates 14-1 on Tuesday behind a nice start from Assad (5 IP, 1 ER, 8 K) and an offensive onslaught led by Canario (2-for-4 and 5 RBI including a grand slam). Seiya Suzuki went 3-for-4 with a homer, and Bellinger and Swanson each homered as well.

The series continues Wednesday at the federal landmark.

151 games down, 11 to go.

GO CUBS GO!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

Cubs Magic Number for an NL Wild Card berth:  11

19

Monday in the NL Central:  the Cubs were idle but the Brewers lost to the Cards, dropping the Cubs Magic Number by one.

The Men in Blue kick off their final homestand of the regular season on Tuesday, hosting the Pirates for a three-game set followed by a weekend series against the Rockies.

150 games down, 12 to go.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  RFBleachers

20

Well, that was a rough road trip.

The Cubs head home to kick off a six-game homestand, their last of the regular season, on Tuesday.

150 games down, 12 to go.

Go Cubs go!

22

Holy mackerel! The Cubs came back to beat the Rockies 5-4 on Monday behind a quality start from Wicks (6 IP, 1 ER), 3 RBI from Gas Money, and a WILD save from Fulmer. Whew. Fasten those seatbelts, indeed!

The series continues Tuesday in Denver.

145 games down, 17 to go. Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

23

Hey hey! The Cubs beat the Diamondbacks 5-2 on Sunday behind a nice start from Kyle Hendricks (5.2, 2 ER, 4 K), a great outfield assist from Ian Happ, homers from Morel, Bellinger, and Swanson, and 3.1 scoreless innings from the bullpen.

The North Siders head to Denver Monday to kick off a three-game set before a three-game rematch in Phoenix next weekend.

144 games down, 18 to go. GO CUBS GO!

25

Holy mackerel! The Cubs completed a sweep of the Giants Wednesday with an 8-2 win behind a quality start from Wicks in his Wrigley debut (6.2 IP, 2 ER), three RBI from Suzuki, and two RBI from Bellinger.

The game was never in doubt, as the North Siders put up a three-spot in the 1st and never looked back.

The Cubs now sit 1.5 games back of the first place Brewers, who lost to the Bucs on Wednesday. The Diamondbacks come to town Thursday to kick off a four-game weekend series.

140 games down, 22 to go.  Go Cubs go!

26

Wednesday in the NL Central:  Bucs come back to beat the Brewers, Cubs up 5-0 over the Giants, bottom 4. Stay tuned!

GO CUBS GO!

27

Holy cow! The Cubs came back to beat the Giants 11-8 on Tuesday behind a clutch three-run homer from Morel, a 3-for-4, 2 RBI night from Gas Money, and a 4-for-5, 3 RBI night from Suzuki.

The men in blue go for the series sweep Wednesday afternoon at the Friendly Confines before Arizona heads to Chicago for a four-game weekend set.

139 games down, 23 to go. Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

28

Hey hey! The Cubs shut out the Giants 5-0 on Monday behind a dominant start from NL Cy Young Award candidate Justin Steele (8 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 12 K) and a two-hit, three RBI day from Seiya Suzuki.

The victory moved the Dubs within 2.5 games of the NL Central Division lead and three games ahead of the Diamondbacks for the second NL Wild Card berth.

The series continues Tuesday at the Friendly Confines.

138 games down, 24 to go. Go Cubs go!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

30

Holy cow! The Cubs beat the Reds 15-7 on Sunday behind a seven-run 8th and a 4-for-6 day from Tauchman (3 RBI), a three-hit day from Happ (4 RBI), and two-hit days from Hoerner, Bellinger (3 RBI), Swanson (2 RBI), Suzuki, & Madrigal (2 RBI).

That wrapped up the season series with Cincinnati. The North Siders kick off a seven-game homestand on Monday versus the Giants and Diamondbacks.

137 games down, 25 to go. Go Cubs go!

32

Holy mackerel! The Cubs took game one of Friday's doubleheader against the Reds 6-2 behind a nice start from Wicks (5 IP, 1 ER, 3 K) and HRs from Bellinger, Happ, & Suzuki.

135 games down, 27 to go. Back at it Saturday. Go Cubs go!