As the Chicago Cubs enjoyed a day off before starting a series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, their job in catching the Milwaukee Brewers got a little harder.
The Brewers beat the Miami Marlins, 4-2, on Thursday and pushed their lead in the National League Central to 4.5 games over the Cubs. With a little more than two weeks left in the season, the Brewers have trimmed their magic number to clinch the title to 12 — which is a combination of Brewers wins and Cubs losses.
But, while their chances of catching the Brewers are dropping, their chances of claiming a Wild Card berth continue to remain steady. In fact, after a chaotic day below the Cubs, they gained one-half game on the rest of the Wild Card field.
One of those teams was Arizona, which lost to the New York Mets and is now one of three teams that is tied for the final Wild Card berth.
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.
The NL Central Race as of Sept. 15
Thursday’s Results
Chicago Cubs, idle
Milwaukee 4, Miami 2
Milwaukee (82-64): — (Magic Number to clinch NL Central: 12)
Chicago Cubs (78-69): 4.5 GB
What’s Left?
Milwaukee (16): Friday-Sunday: 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 (15): Friday-Sunday: 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. 15
Thursday’s Results
Philadelphia, idle
Chicago Cubs, idle
Milwaukee 4, Miami 2
New York Mets 11, Arizona 1
Detroit 8, Cincinnati 2
San Francisco vs. Colorado, ppd. (to be played on Saturday as part of doubleheader)
(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)
Philadelphia (79-67): +4.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 12)
Chicago Cubs (78-69): +2.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch: 13)
San Francisco (75-71): —
Cincinnati (76-72): —
Arizona (76-72): —
Miami (75-72): 0.5 GB
What’s Left?
Philadelphia (16): Friday-Sunday: 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 (15): Friday-Sunday: 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 (14): Friday-Sunday: 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 (14): Friday-Sunday: 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 (15): Friday-Sunday: 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 (15): Friday-Sunday: 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)
