Chicago Cubs: 60 days and 55 games left until the postseason

Chicago Cubs must still face opponents from the NL East & West

In less than two weeks the Chicago Cubs will head to Philadelphia for a three-game series with the Phillies. The last time these two teams met, they split a four-game series in Chicago back in May.  The Cubs put up 22 runs to the Phillies 20 runs, just squeaking by the solid bats of the Founding Fathers.

The Phillies sit 6 1/2 games back from the Atlanta Braves and will look to get some of that back at home against Chicago. The Phillies are getting hot at the right time with a (7-3) record over their last 10 games. If the Cubs can steal one game here on the road, they’ll be fine.

The Washington Nationals are sitting third in the NL East and will take on the Cubs in Wrigley near the end of August. The Nats are playing, mediocre ball right now as they have only won 50% of their last 10 games and the same for their away games.  This will be in the Cubs favor as long as they can put up the runs.

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The last time these two teams met, the Cubs put up 22 to the Nats 21 runs in the series. The Cubs tend to pound the ball well in the friendly confines and hopefully can collect a three-game sweep. The Nats are prime for a pounding right about now.

The Cubs will meet the New York Mets on the road right after that hometown series with the Nats. Another reason to get hot during that series and possibly pull the momentum through against the Mets.  The Mets have been hot, winning (7-3) in their last 10. Will they still be hot in late-August?

At home, they are (28-20) which does not fare well for the Cubs. The Mets have brought on pitcher Marcus Stroman and decided not to deal red-hot pitcher Noah Syndergaard who recently carved up that other Chicago team across town. This will be a tough series for the Cubs as they only won the first and last game of the four-game series split in late June.  This is another road trip we should be happy to take one of three.

The Cubs will finish up with NL opponents: San Francisco Giants in Wrigley and the San Diego Padres in California. While the Giants match is a three-game contest, the Cubs will have a four-game opportunity against the Padres who they beat (2-1) in a recent Chicago series.

The Cubs are (3-3) between the Giants and Padres but tend to play well on the road, especially in California, which makes that Padres venture look more likely to produce. If the Cubs can take six of the eight games between these two clubs, it should fare well for their push into October.