Chicago stands on the precipice of October baseball. Discover how Shota Imanaga can clinch a berth Tuesday while the North Siders battle for crucial home-field advantage.
The postseason is right around the corner.
The Chicago Cubs have six games remaining in the regular season. They will host the Miami Marlins for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday at Wrigley Field and then end the season on the road with a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
With six games remaining in the season, here’s a breakdown of where the Cubs stand in the playoff race. This article will look at the magic number, odds of making the playoffs, and a rooting guide for the final week.
Magic Number
The Cubs' magic number to clinch a postseason berth is one. If the North Siders beat the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, or if the Arizona Diamondbacks lose to the Colorado Rockies, they will be headed back to the postseason for the second consecutive year.
The only way the Cubs miss the postseason is if they lose all six games this week and the Diamondbacks win all six of theirs. It’s pretty clear that Chicago will be in this year’s postseason field, as the team has a 99.9% chance of making the playoffs.
The Cubs will look to clinch on Tuesday with Shota Imanaga on the mound.
Seeding/Tiebreaker
Although the Cubs can clinch a Wild Card spot as soon as Tuesday, they will likely be fighting for seeding all throughout the week. The North Siders currently own the top Wild Card spot, but both the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies are right on their tail.
The Cubs are tied with the Padres for the top Wild Card spot, and the Phillies are just one game back of both of those teams. With six games remaining in the regular season, there could be a lot of shifting among the top three Wild Card teams.
Remember, the top Wild Card team gets the opportunity to host the second Wild Card team for a three-game series at their home ballpark. The third Wild Card team will play the National League East division winner (Atlanta Braves) for a three-game series in Atlanta.
The Cubs have a leg up on both the Padres and Phillies since they own the head-to-head tiebreaker. Chicago won the season series against both San Diego (5-1) and Philadelphia (6-1).
Rooting Guide
It’s pretty simple who the Cubs should be rooting for and against this week. Chicago should be rooting for both the Padres and Phillies to lose as many games as possible this week. Getting that top Wild Card spot is so important.
The Padres will have two tougher series this week against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. So, it’s pretty easy. The Cubs should be rooting for the Dodgers and Diamondbacks to win this week.
The same goes for the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, who are set to play the Phillies this week. For the first time all season, Cubs fans should be rooting for the Brewers to win.
The Cubs will also need to take care of business against the Marlins and Red Sox. However, seeing the Padres and Phillies lose would also help their chances of getting that top Wild Card spot and hosting a playoff game at Wrigley Field.
