Chicago Cubs: Now’s the time for a big move in NL Central Division

The Chicago Cubs could start to blow open the National League Central in the next week-plus, with just a little help from the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Chicago Cubs have been winning and that’s what’s most important if you are looking at the standings in the National League Central.  As the Milwaukee Brewers come to Wrigley for this weekend’s series, it’s easy to see how the next 10 days can really propel the Cubs well into first place in the central division.

The first thing that’s got to happen is that the Philadelphia Phillies need to continue crushing their competition. At the end of the Cubs’ next 10-day run they will face the Phillies themselves, but hopefully will have put up enough wins that even a sweep wouldn’t Philly won’t hurt. Of course, we want Gabe Kapler’s club to top everyone else in the next 10 days and their last 7-3 record in their last 10 contests shows they’re ready to do just that.

In the next 10 days, the Cubs battle the Brewers, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, with the latter two of those series on the road. Chicago could run the table and win all nine games but realistically I would expect them to maybe lose two games at the most. This still fares very well for their record. Let’s take a look at how the Cubs begin to separate themselves from the pack.

Chicago Cubs: Taking on the Reds

The Cincinnati Reds are 9-8 at home but are just 4-6 in their last 10 games. Let’s face it, these guys are eight games back from first place and are bringing up the rear.

What makes me totally nervous about the match-up is that for some reason, and only God, Ernie Banks and Ron Santo know why, but the Cubs seems to lay down for these mediocre clubs. Who didn’t just about bite the nails off with Chicago playing the pathetic Miami Marlins and almost losing those tight games?

The Reds often tend to give our guys a hard time as well. It’s like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Ben Zobrist all get spooked when they look to the other dugout and see first baseman Joey Votto staring back. I know they have great respect (or fear) for the Reds first baseman but this season it would be to the Cubs advantage if our players would treat Votto like any other player and get on with the game.

The Cubs should go on the road to Cincy, take all three games and a bowl of chili. The Reds look to go into a deeper hole and continue their spot on the bottom of the division.

Chicago Cubs: Here’s a Capitol idea: sweep the Washington Nationals

After three games on the road against the Reds and a team supply of antacid for the chili, the Chicago Cubs land in the Capitol to take on the Washington Nationals.

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Our founding fathers might be ashamed of their team as the Nats currently sit in fourth place in the NL East and seven games back from first place. In their last 10 games, they are 2-8 and at home, they have been particularly vulnerable at 7-11.

The Nats shouldn’t pose as big of a threat to the Cubs as they did last year, where they took four of seven games played.

This season the Cubs bats and bullpen should be able to put away the Nats much more decisively.

If the St. Louis Cardinals still bother you even after the whooping put on by the Cubs at home, then it’s time to stop worrying as the Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers in the next 10 days.

St. Louis is 4-6 in their last 10 games and two games under .500 away from Busch Stadium. Considering both the Braves and the Rangers games will be on the road, you can expect the Redbirds to, at best, split the next 10 games (5-5). Those five added losses could also add separation between them and the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs are coming into a really weak part of the schedule over the next 10 days. If manager Joe Maddon can navigate the waters carefully, Chicago may just find themselves six or more games ahead in their division – a notable early season cushion.