Chicago Cubs Sweep Trims Playoff Magic Number Entering Final Week

The Chicago Cubs will be on the road for the season's final week, but they've positioned themselves to control their playoff destiny.

The Chicago Cubs trimmed their magic number to clinch a playoff berth on Sunday as they wrapped up a well-timed sweep of the Colorado Rockies.

The Cubs (82-74) didn’t pick up any ground on the Arizona Diamondbacks, who also won on Sunday. But the Cubs’ job right now is to continue to win games and keep trimming their magic number, which is now six to clinch a playoff berth.

Keep doing that and the Cubs will eventually get that Wild Card berth.

Behind them, the race stayed tight. Both Miami and Cincinnati won on Sunday, as the race remained static. The Phillies, who are just one win away from clinching a playoff berth, won as well.

The task gets tougher for Chicago after their off-day as they face the Atlanta Braves.

As for the NL Central race, it’s within the realm of possibility the Cubs could catch the Brewers. Milwaukee is up six games with six games left. If the Cubs win them all and the Brewers lose them all, then it comes down to the tiebreaker. The Cubs play their final three against Milwaukee, so it’s more likely the issue is decided before they meet.

Below is an update on the race, with the current standings, magic numbers to clinch a Wild Card berth and the remaining schedules for the teams that are still in the race.

The NL Central Race as of Sept. 25

Sunday’s Results

Miami 6, Milwaukee 1

Chicago Cubs 4, Colorado 3

Standings

Milwaukee (88-68): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 1)

Chicago Cubs (82-74): 6.0 GB

What’s Left?

Milwaukee (6): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. St. Louis (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Chicago Cubs (3)

Chicago Cubs (6): Tuesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (3); Friday-Sunday: at Milwaukee (3)

The NL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 25

Sunday’s Results

Philadelphia 5, New York Mets 2

Chicago Cubs 4, Colorado 3

Miami 6, Milwaukee 1

Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 2

Arizona 7, New York Yankees 1

Standings

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Philadelphia (87-69): +5.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 1; Magic Number to clinch top Wild Card berth: 2)

Arizona (82-73): — +0.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 6)

Chicago Cubs (82-74): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 6)

Miami (81-75): — 1.0 GB

Cincinnati (80-77): — 2.5 GB

What’s Left?

Philadelphia (6): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Pittsburgh (3); Friday-Sunday: at New York Mets (3)

Chicago Cubs (6): Tuesday-Thursday: at Atlanta (3); Friday-Sunday: at Milwaukee (3)

Arizona (7): Monday: at New York Yankees (1); Tuesday-Thursday: at Chicago White Sox (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Houston (3)

Cincinnati (5): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Cleveland (2); Friday-Sunday: at St. Louis (3)

Miami (6): Tuesday-Thursday: at New York Mets (3); Friday-Sunday: at Pittsburgh (3)