{"id":89433,"date":"2025-09-07T14:35:36","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T14:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=89433"},"modified":"2025-09-07T14:35:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T14:35:36","slug":"chicago-cubs-inch-closer-to-postseason-as-magic-number-falls-thanks-to-giants-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=89433","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Cubs Inch Closer to Postseason as Magic Number Falls Thanks to Giants\u2019 Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The Chicago Cubs could have used some of the offense from Friday\u2019s game in their 2-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Saturday at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n

The Cubs (81-61) blew out the Nats on Friday to get a little closer to their goal of claiming a playoff berth. But, on Saturday, the Cubs scored just one run in a 2-1 loss, courtesy of a Carson Kelly RBI groundout. Chicago can\u2019t put it on starting pitcher Matthew Boyd, as he allowed seven hits and two earned runs in seven innings.<\/p>\n

The Cubs were just unable to get much going offensively. As a result, Chicago was reliant on others to help its magic number to claim a playoff berth.<\/p>\n

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<\/canvas>\"Cubs<\/picture><\/figure>\n

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Entering Saturday\u2019s action, the Cubs magic number to clinch a playoff berth was 13. The Cubs\u2019 magic number drops by one every time they win a game. Without a win on Saturday, Chicago was reliant on what other teams were doing, most notably the San Francisco Giants, which are the first team out of the wild card playoffs if the postseason started today.<\/p>\n

The Giants have been red-hot of late and were in St. Louis to face the Cardinals on Saturday, A loss by San Francisco would hand the Cubs a new magic number \u2014 12. Well, San Francisco fell, 3-2. So, the number is now 12.<\/p>\n

The NL Central race is a lost cause. The Milwaukee Brewers won again on Saturday to push their lead over Chicago to 6.5 games. The two teams don\u2019t have any more head-to-head matchups, so the Cubs need the Brewers to go on a massive losing streak. That seems unlikely.<\/p>\n

The Cubs are trying to get to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, when they won the NL Central title during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. That ended a run of five playoff berths in six seasons, which included the 2016 World Series title, the franchise\u2019s first championship in more than a century.<\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs Magic Number Watch<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/canvas>\"Cubs<\/picture><\/figure>\n

David Banks-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Magic Number to Clinch Playoff Berth: <\/strong>12<\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs Games Remaining: <\/strong>19<\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs Remaining Schedule: <\/strong>Sept. 7, vs. Washington; Sept. 8-10, at Atlanta; Sept. 12-14, vs. Tampa Bay; Sept. 15-17, at Pittsburgh; Sept. 18-21, at Cincinnati; Sept. 23-25 vs. New York Mets; Sept. 26-28, vs. St. Louis.<\/p>\n

\n
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<\/canvas>\"Cubs<\/picture><\/figure>\n

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Chicago Cubs: 81-61 (5.0 games ahead)<\/p>\n

San Diego Padres: 77-65 (1.0 games ahead)<\/p>\n

New York Mets: 76-66 (tied with Padres)<\/p>\n

San Francisco Giants: 72-70 (4.0 games behind final berth)<\/p>\n

NL Central Update<\/strong><\/p>\n

Milwaukee Brewers: 88-55<\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs: 81-61 (6.5 games behind)<\/p>\n

Brewers Magic Number to clinch NL Central<\/strong>: 14<\/p>\n

Brewers Games Remaining<\/strong>: 19<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Brewers Remaining Schedule: <\/strong>Sept. 7, at Pittsburgh; Sept. 8-10, at Texas; Sept. 12-14, vs. St. Louis; Sept. 16-18, vs. Los Angeles Angels; Sept. 19-21, at St. Louis; Sept. 22-24 at San Diego; Sept. 26-28, vs. Cincinnati.<\/p>\n

The Latest Chicago Cubs News<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs Game Today (9\/7\/25): Preview, Game Time, How to Watch & Live Stream<\/p>\n

Why Cubs’ Lineup Needs Star Sluggers To Achieve Postseason Success<\/p>\n

Cubs Manager Craig Counsell Gives New Update On Kyle Tucker’s Injury Setback<\/p>\n

Cubs Expected To Retain Star Pitcher With Bargain Option<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Cubs could have used some of the offense from Friday\u2019s game in their 2-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Saturday at Wrigley Field. 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