Even before the Cubs lost to the Pirates 4-2 on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, they were eliminated from postseason contention. The Brewers already had put the finishing touches on a 9-2 win against the Reds in Cincinnati to clinch a playoff spot for the second straight year.
This will be the first time since 2014 the Cubs aren’t in the playoffs.
The Brewers won again Thursday, defeating the Reds 5-3 for their seventh consecutive win and 21st in 25 games. They pulled within one game of the idle Cardinals for first place in the National League Central and a half-game behind the Nationals for the top wild-card spot, pending the result of Washington’s late-afternoon game against the Phillies.
The Cardinals’ final three games are against the Cubs in St. Louis while the Brewers face the Rockies in Denver.
A look at the playoff picture:
1. Cardinals
Record: 90-69.
Playoff probability (Fangraphs.com): 100% (clinched playoff berth Sunday); 81.4% to win the division.
Wednesday: Lost to the Diamondbacks 9-7.
Games remaining: 3 (all at home).
Versus NL Central: 3 vs. Cubs (all at home).
Versus .500-plus teams: 3.
Thursday: Off.
Remaining games
Friday vs. Cubs, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday vs. Cubs, 6:15 p.m.
Sunday vs. Cubs, 2:15 p.m.
2. Brewers
Record: 88-70, 11/2 games back in the division; one game behind the Nationals for the top wild card.
Playoff probability: 100% overall, 18.6% to win the division.
Wednesday: Beat the Reds 9-2.
Games remaining: 3 (all on the road).
Versus NL Central: 0.
Versus .500-plus teams: 0.
Thursday: Beat the Reds 5-3.
Remaining games
Friday at Rockies, 7:10 p.m.
Saturday at Rockies, 7:10 p.m.
Sunday at Rockies, 2:10 p.m.
3. Cubs
Record: 82-76, eliminated from postseason contention.
Wednesday: Lost to the Pirates 4-2.
Games remaining: 4 (all on the road).
Versus NL Central: 3 vs. Cardinals (all on the road).
Versus .500-plus teams: 3.
Thursday: at Pirates, 6:05 p.m., NBCSCH.
Remaining games
Friday at Cardinals, 7:15 p.m., WGN-9
Saturday at Cardinals, 6:15 p.m., FOX-32
Sunday at Cardinals, 2:15 p.m., ABC-7
Potential playoff matchups
If the season ended today …
NL wild-card game
Brewers at Nationals, Tuesday
NL Division Series
(1) Dodgers vs. (4) Brewers-Nationals winner
(2) Braves vs. (3) Cardinals
