The Cubs will make the playoffs. The Reds would have to go on a run of a lifetime with the Cubs playing .500 baseball or even slightly worse. That being said, I do think the Cubs have had a mild collapse in not even threatening to win the division. I suspect the Brewers will struggle a bit down the stretch given the respective schedules of the two teams but will probably win the division by 2-3 games over the Cubs. Then it's just a matter of what pitchers get hot.

The Cubs' record would have them either in first place or within a game of first place in every other division except the NL Central. The Brewers went on a superhuman run, 47-16 from June 1 through August 16. Nothing that can be done about that, and the Cubs have gone 5-5 against Milwaukee head-to-head since June 1.

They now have a 3 game lead over the Padres for the top wild card slot. If the Cubs can hold onto that lead and host the Wild Card series I'll consider the regular season a success.

Their closer is out for at least a month and they have to face the Blue Jays and the Phillies in their next six games. We'll see if Chourio's return gives them a lift. For the game the other day against the D'Backs, only 9 of the 26 players had been on the Opening Day roster. They had a guy pitching who just got dumped by the Braves. That's how badly they need arms during this marathon stretch.

Kudos on 2 of 3 from Milwaukee.

The Cubs series was painful. But not close to the torture of watching Will Clark in 1989.

I will rewatch the 9th inning of Game 4 in 2016 to feel better.

not sure what the hell is going on with the Giants. Strange team.

Before that they won their last 3 series, including 3 of 5 against red-hot MIL.

They haven’t lost more than 3 in a row all year. They’re resilient.

This team is good. Not great, but good. They’ll get to the wild card round and then we will see what happens. Breathe.

I feel like it would take a pretty catastrophic implosion for the Cubbies not to snag a wild card spot.