Chicago Cubs Trim Magic Number Again By Beating Giants

The Chicago Cubs continues to help their playoff case in the Wild Card race, while they held steady in the National League Central chase.

The Chicago Cubs claimed another victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday and nudged closer to getting themselves in position to make the playoffs.

The Cubs’ 11-8 win over the Giants gave the Cubs a series victory. But, more importantly, chipped away at their magic number in the NL Wild Card race. It also kept them in striking distance of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central race, as the Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday

Below is an update on the race, with the current standings, magic numbers to clinch the NL Central and a Wild Card berth, along with the remaining schedules for the teams that are still in the race as the Cubs wrap up their series with the San Francisco Giants on Wednesda6.

The NL Central Race as of Sept. 6

Monday’s Results

Milwaukee 7, Pittsburgh 3

Chicago Cubs 11, San Francisco 8

Milwaukee (77-61): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 22)

Chicago Cubs (75-64): 2.5 games back

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (24): Wednesday: at Pittsburgh (1); Friday-Sunday: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 11-14: vs. Miami (4); Sept. 15-17: vs. Washington (3); Sept. 18-21: at St. Louis (4); Sept. 22-24: at Miami (3); Sept. 26-28: vs. St. Louis (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Chicago Cubs (3)

Chicago Cubs (23): Wednesday: vs. San Francisco (1); Thursday-Sunday: vs. Arizona (4); Sept. 11-13: at Colorado (3); Sept. 15-17: at Arizona (3); Sept. 19-21: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 26-28: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 6

Monday’s Results

Chicago Cubs 11, San Francisco 8

San Diego 8, Philadelphia 0

Cincinnati 7, Seattle 6

Miami 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 3

Colorado 3, Arizona 2

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (76-62): +4.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 20)

Chicago Cubs (75-64): +3.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 21)

Cincinnati (73-68): — (Magic Number to clinch: 23)

Miami (71-67): .5 Games back

Arizona (71-68): 1.0 Games back

San Francisco (70-69): 2.0 Games back

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (24): Wednesday: at San Diego (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. Miami (3); Sept. 11-13: vs. Atlanta (4); Sept. 15-17: at St. Louis (3); Sept. 18-20: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 21-24: vs. New York Mets (4); Sept. 26-28: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (24): Wednesday: vs. San Francisco (1); Thursday-Sunday: vs. Arizona (4); Sept. 11-13: at Colorado (3); Sept. 15-17: at Arizona (3); Sept. 19-21: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 26-28: at Atlanta (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Milwaukee (3)

Arizona (23): Wednesday: vs. Colorado (1); Thursday-Sunday: at Chicago Cubs (4); Sept. 11-14: at New York Mets (4); Sept. 15-17: vs. Chicago Cubs (3); Sept. 19-20: vs. San Francisco (2); Sept. 22-24: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 25-27: at Chicago White Sox (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (21): Wednesday: vs. Seattle (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. St. Louis (3); Sept. 12-14: at Detroit (3); Sept. 15-17: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 18-20: vs. Minnesota (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Sept. 26-27: at Cleveland (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (24): Wednesday: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1); Friday-Sunday: at Philadelphia (3); Sept. 11-14: at Milwaukee (4); Sept. 15-17: vs. Atlanta (3); Sept. 18-20: vs. New York Mets (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Milwaukee (3); Sept. 26-28: at New York Mets (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Pittsburgh (3)

San Francisco (23): Wednesday: at Chicago Cubs (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. Colorado (3); Sept. 11-13: vs. Cleveland (3); Sept. 14-17: at Colorado (4); Sept. 19-20: at Arizona (2); Sept. 21-24: at Los Angeles Dodgers (4); Sept. 25-27: vs. San Diego (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3)