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As crazy as it would have sounded at any point this season before the MLB trade deadline on July 31, the path to the postseason for the Chicago Cubs does not appear to be through the National League Central. The Cubs had been sitting on top of the division for most of the season, but the week of the deadline finally saw the team overtaken by the Milwaukee Brewers. Since then, the Brewers haven't looked back.
After the Cubs dropped two of three games against the Cardinals over the weekend, and the Brewers continued their nine-game winning streak, the North Siders' chances of winning the division have fallen to 18.6 percent according to FanGraphs' latest postseason odds. It's further confirmation that for the Cubs, their focus should be on securing the top spot in the National League Wild-Card race.
Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reminded everyone of that fact on Monday morning.
"We should be talking more about the wild card … Realistically, you’re looking at hoping to be the top seed in the wild card."
The Cubs have a 5-game set against the Brewers soon, but it's time to discuss reality, @MLBBruceLevine says.
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) August 11, 2025
"We should be talking more about the wild card … Realistically, you’re looking at hoping to be the top seed in the wild card," he says.
Listen: https://t.co/usDvdtYAzn pic.twitter.com/5auOY37R0N
Brutally honest Cubs insider take reveals real priority for rest of season
Entering play on Monday, the Cubs would be the top seed in the National League Wild-Card race. The Cubs have a 4.5-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds, with the other two Wild-Card spots belonging to the San Diego Padres and New York Mets.
The shift in focus for the Cubs is yet another confirmation that the Cubs' front office simply can't rely on being just good enough. Jed Hoyer's philosophy while operating the Cubs' front office has been for the Cubs to be good each season, and that takes precedent over the desire to be great. The Cubs did not chase that desire at the deadline, and that result was the Brewers surging past them in the National League Central. As long as the Cubs continue to avoid using their primary advantage over the Brewers, money, they should never be viewed as the favorites in their division.