NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs did their part yesterday to stay more than afloat in the NL Wild Card race, and also to continue their creep, creep, creeping back up the NL Central standings.
But how did the other NL playoff contenders of note do?
Milwaukee Brewers LOST
Thank you, Pirates, for taking two of three from a Brewers team that had recently looked all but unbeatable by teams that weren’t the Cubs.
The Brewers lost in part because of their own flub on a relay in the outfield:
And in part because of CB Bucknor’s love of the widest strike zone you can possibly imagine:
That pitch was simply never even close to ever being a strike. And it ended the game. Brewers lost. Mostly lol, right?
The loss helped the Cubs climb back to within 1.5 games of the top of the NL Central, the closest they’ve been in a month. The Brewers are off today, then they head to New York to start a series with the Yankees on Friday.
Philadelphia Phillies WON
The Phillies beat the Padres in San Diego, taking two of three in the series. They remain in the top Wild Card spot, also 1.5 games ahead of the Cubs. Just keep winning, Cubs, and you’ll pass one of the Brewers or Phillies, which will get them the home playoff series.
Also, Kyle Schwarber’s silly season continues:
The Phillies are also off today, and then will host the Marlins this weekend.
Miami Marlins WON
For now, the Miami Marlins hold that last Wild Card spot, a half-game ahead of each of the Diamondbacks and Reds (and 3.5 games back of the Cubs for spot number two).
The Marlins won their 6th in a row yesterday, the latter half of which have come against the Dodgers. They now go for the sweep against the Dodgers later today.
But there’s a big but for the Marlins right now. Two of them, actually: Sandy Alcántara (forearm) and Jorge Soler (oblique) just hit the IL, and it’s not entirely clear that either will be back this season. That’s quite a double blow at once, and I’m not so sure the Marlins can withstand it.
Arizona Diamondbacks WON
The Diamondbacks stomped the Rockies, making it a series win this week. They travel east now to face the Cubs for four games, and I’m sure they have had it circled on their calendar, given the Wild Card standings. They are a half-game behind the Marlins and four games behind the Cubs.
The Diamondbacks will have an extra youngster up to face the Cubs, as top prospect Jordan Lawlar is getting the call in time for this trip to Chicago. The plan is for Lawlar, 21, to start at shortstop. Depending on your prospect list of choice, Lawlar is a top 5-10 prospect in all of baseball. He is a potential difference-maker in the series, so that timing kinda sucks. Hopefully the Cubs have a game plan. They can’t do much about his top-tier defense at shortstop or his speed, but let’s hope they discovered some holes in his plate approach while he was tearing up Triple-A the last few weeks.
Cincinnati Reds LOST
The Reds, also a half-game back of the Marlins, lost to the Mariners last night, though they had won the first two games in that series. The Reds are 5.5 games back in the NL Central.
They get today off and then host the Cardinals this weekend.
San Francisco Giants LOST
The Top Overall Spot
I’m keeping a side eye on this one because if the Braves (currently up 6.0 games on the Dodgers) were to get so far ahead that they clinch the top seed and home field through the NL half of the playoffs, maybe they rest a few of their regulars in the second-to-last series of the season … against the Cubs. It’s possible they wouldn’t do that in any kind of massive way, but just a day off here or there for a guy, or a skipped start, or a shortened outing? All possible. The Braves are only up 2.5 games on the Orioles for the top overall record in baseball (World Series home field advantage) for what that’s worth, though.
