With the Cubs now nine games behind the Brewers in the NL Central — Milwaukee’s magic number to clinch the division title is 14 — let’s turn our upcoming schedule attention to the team’s competitors in the Wild Card race.
As you know, the Cubs hold the tiebreaker over the three teams closest to them in the Wild Card race, the Phillies, Diamondbacks and Padres. What makes all of this more interesting is that the Marlins are sneaking up behind the latter two teams. Arizona now holds the third wild card
spot, half a game ahead of the Padres. But the Marlins stand just two games behind San Diego.
The Cubs and Marlins have not yet met this year. They will play six times later this month, first with a three-game series in Miami that begins Friday. So the Cubs will have a big say in whether the Marlins can make the postseason or not.
Tankathon has the Phillies with the toughest strength of schedule (second). The Marlins are fourth, Cubs are fifth, Padres 20th and Diamondbacks 21st.
Here are the remaining schedules for all five teams. Home games in boldface.
Cubs, 22 games (10 home, 12 road)
Brewers (1), at Marlins (3), at Brewers (3), Pirates (3), Braves (3), at Reds (3), Marlins (3), at Red Sox (3)
That last grouping of games involves a lot of travel, a three-game trip, then a three-game homestand, then another three-game trip. Those last three games could be important for both the Cubs and Red Sox.
Phillies, 22 games (13 home, 9 road)
Braves (4), Astros (3), at Braves (3), at Nationals (3), at Mets (3), Brewers (3), Rays (3)
That’s 16 of 22 games against teams currently in first place. The Phillies are currently under .500 (32-33) against teams with winning records. That could help out the Cubs.
Also, while the remaining Phillies schedule begins with a homestand, Philadelphia has a slightly better road winning percentage (.569) than at home (.559).
Diamondbacks, 21 games (9 home, 12 road)
at Astros (3), at Royals (3), Rangers (3), Marlins (3), Yankees (3), at Rockies (3), at Padres (3)
A combination of teams fighting for postseason spots and teams way out of it.
The D-backs are under .500 (33-36) away from Chase Field so this might hurt them down the stretch.
Padres, 22 games (12 home, 10 road)
Yankees (3), Nationals (3), at Giants (3), at Rockies (4), Marlins (3), at Dodgers (3), Diamondbacks (3)
Those last three Diamondbacks/Padres games could help decide one of the wild card spots.
Marlins, 22 games (12 home, 10 road)
at Royals (1), Cubs (3), Mets (3), Dodgers (3), at Diamondbacks (3), at Padres (3), at Cubs (3), Braves (3)
The Marlins have a tough schedule, even with a nine-game homestand. Then they have a nine-game trip, including two out west. Miami is 29-42 on the road, so their postseason hopes are probably a longshot.
It should be a fun final three weeks. Fasten your seat belts!
