Cubs News: Looking at the remaining crucial series in 2020

Just a few weeks into the 2020 season, the Chicago Cubs campaign is already almost halfway over. Here are some of the big matchups that are to come and how big they are.

As the Chicago Cubs battle the White Sox this weekend, they are already approaching the halfway point of the 60-game season. When the series concludes this Sunday, they will have played 27 games with basically a month left to go. It does not require being a genius to know that every game is critical.

Just looking at the remaining opponents as a whole, they will play each NL Central team at least one more time and will play every AL Central team once except the Royals, who the Cubs have already finished up their games against for the year.

The Sox and Indians are the only teams the Cubs will have played two separate series. What is good for the Cubs is that they will have two off days in mid-August, if there are no games to be made up.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

That said, let’s look at some of the most crucial series in the final month of the season. There will be some series that, depending on what happens in the next few weeks, could make or break where the Cubs finish in the standings.

Cubs and the four of the most significant series coming up in September

Vs. Cardinals: September 4-7 at Wrigley Field 

This will be another five-game set with a doubleheader on Saturday the 5th. Thet will not play any games at Busch Stadium this season and will conclude their matchups with the Redbirds all at Wrigley. It will be a time where the Cardinals are making up a ton of games, and the Cubs could take advantage of that situation and hopefully take their second and final series against their oldest rivals.

@ Brewers: September 11-13 at Miller Park

The Cubs will want to avenge their 3/4 series loss to the Brewers last weekend. This will be their only trip to Miller Park this season. It will be necessary for the Cubs to take this series and not give the Brewers any more lifelike they have in 2018 and 2019. It was hideous for the Cubs last year at Miller Park. Even if the Brewers are on the border of contention, it will have a big game feel. The only thing missing in this series will be the Cubs fans making the travel to “Wrigley North”.

@ Pirates: September 21-24 at PNC Park

The second-to-last series of the season will come in a four-game set at PNC Park against the Pirates. This Pirates team is currently well in last place and not in contention, which is why the Cubs will be looking to take advantage of the matchup. Depending on how the next few weeks go, the race in the NL Central could be tight, and the Cubs could be looking to close up a playoff spot. They will want to win this series against a team they need to beat and potentially not risk hurting their chances at a division title.

@ White Sox: September 25-27 at Guaranteed Rate Field

For the first time, the regular season will finish against the South Siders. The Sox are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008, and while the two teams are not in the same division, the games could factor into where each team finishes. It will be a very tough battle against the young Sox who are entering their years of contention with their lineup that can mash. This series will be more for just bragging rights this time.

It will be an exciting battle down the stretch. The biggest questions are if the offense can find that spark again with guys like Kris Bryant and Javier Baez coming out of a slump, or if the starters can keep up their effective way. The Cardinals are going to be battling until the end, and we still cannot count the Brewers out, so it will likely not be a cakewalk to the end.