{"id":97950,"date":"2025-09-24T15:06:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T15:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=97950"},"modified":"2025-09-24T15:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T15:06:10","slug":"padres-stall-cubs-magic-number-chase-to-clinch-top-wild-card-seed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=97950","title":{"rendered":"Padres Stall Cubs Magic Number Chase To Clinch Top Wild Card Seed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

One thing has appeared clear for a couple of weeks. The Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres are likely to play each other in the NL wild card playoffs.<\/p>\n

Now, the location of the series is up for debate, thanks to a late surge by the Padres and a late swoon by the Cubs.<\/p>\n

The Cubs (88-69) fell to the New York Mets (81-76), 9-7, at Wrigley Field. Later Tuesday, the Padres (87-71) beat the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago has lost five straight games while the Padres have won their last four games.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s creating tension for the Cubs with five games remaining in their season.<\/p>\n

\n

\u2014 Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 24, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

The Cubs had a magic number of four going into Tuesday\u2019s action. That magic number is to clinch the No. 4 seed, or the top NL wild card bid. That No. 4 seed comes with a home playoff series in the wild card round. Because of how that round is set up, there is no travel for the home team, as all three games of the best-of-3 series are at home.<\/p>\n

Every time the Cubs win or the Padres lose, the magic number drops. The Cubs had a healthy lead. But, with San Diego\u2019s run, plus Chicago\u2019s sudden issues, the Cubs\u2019 lead for the No. 4 seed is down to 1.5 games. The Padres have one fewer game left to play than Chicago.<\/p>\n

Chicago\u2019s problem is that New York is hungry for wins because it entered Tuesday\u2019s action tied for the final wild card berth with the Cincinnati Reds, who swept the Cubs in a four-game series last weekend. The Mets can\u2019t flounder because in the event they end up in a tie with the Reds they won\u2019t make the playoffs.<\/p>\n

New York beat Chicago and Cincinnati lost to Pittsburgh, meaning that the Mets have a one-game cushion over the Reds with five games remaining. It also means that New York remains highly motivated to win.<\/p>\n

The Cubs are seeking their first trip to the World Series since 2016, when they ended the franchise\u2019s 100-plus year drought and ended the \u201ccurse of the Billy Goat\u201d with a seven-game series victory over the Cleveland Guardians.<\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs Magic Number Watch<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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nico headed home once again! pic.twitter.com\/TBhcM6LSdF<\/p>\n

\u2014 Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 24, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Magic Number to Clinch No. 4 Seed: <\/strong>4<\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs Games Remaining: <\/strong>5<\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs Remaining Schedule: <\/strong>Sept. 24-25 vs. New York Mets; Sept. 26-28, vs. St. Louis.<\/p>\n

NL Wild Card Race (after Sept. 23)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Chicago Cubs: 88-69 (7.0 games ahead)<\/p>\n

San Diego Padres: 87-71 (5.5 games ahead)<\/p>\n

New York Mets: 81-76 (final wild card berth)<\/p>\n

Cincinnati Reds: 80-77 (1.0 game behind final berth)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One thing has appeared clear for a couple of weeks. The Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres are likely to play each other in the NL wild card playoffs. Now,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":97951,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nPadres Stall Cubs Magic Number Chase To Clinch Top Wild Card Seed - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=97950\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Padres Stall Cubs Magic Number Chase To Clinch Top Wild Card Seed - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"One thing has appeared clear for a couple of weeks. 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