Cubs face Brewers' reality check after Reds series loss reshapes NL Wild Card conversation

The same weekend that Pete Crow-Armstrong solidified his position as the favorite for the National League MVP award, the Chicago Cubs may have sealed their fate in the National League Central. The Cubs dropped two of three games against the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend, and that reshapes the conversation ahead of a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cubs now trail the Brewers by eight games in the division. Starting tonight, the Cubs and Brewers will play seven times over the next two weeks. That said, this week could ultimately be what ends the conversation of catching Milwaukee for the Cubs. Short of winning the series, and what they truly need is a sweep, the Brewers may finally close the door on the division for the third consecutive season.

Cubs picked worst possible time to stumble with Brewers looming

Circumstances have not been on the Cubs' side ahead of their series against Milwaukee. They have lost three consecutive series, and while that puts the division nearly out of their reach, it also has shifted the conversation in the National League Wild Card race.

The Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies now enter Monday tied for the top wild card spot in the National League. Important reminder is by virtue of winning six of the seven games they played against the Phillies this season, the Cubs hold the tie-breaker over Philadelphia. Right now, that is the difference between the Wild Card series between the two teams being played at Wrigley Field instead of Citizens Bank Park.

While the Cubs are facing the Brewers this week, the Phillies have a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Right now, the Diamondbacks are the final wild card team in the National League.

How this shakes out for the playoffs is that the Brewers and Atlanta Braves would have a first-round bye, the Los Angeles Dodgers would host the Diamondbacks, and the Cubs would host the Phillies during the Wild Card round. Note that still 4.5 games separate the Cubs and Phillies from the Diamondbacks.

Despite how things have looked for the Cubs over the past week, FanGraphs still gives them over a 98% chance of making the playoffs. It's some needed perspective that things aren't quite as bad as they seem in the moment after each of their losses against the Seattle Mariners, Diamondbacks, and Reds. That said, as we enter September, things can flip at a moment's notice.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow