Cubs magic number is nearly irrelevant with much bigger playoff concern staring them down

The Chicago Cubs' magic number is down to one, and they can clinch a playoff spot with a victory over the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. Of course, even in the event the Cubs lose tonight, they can still secure their spot with the Arizona Diamondbacks losing to the Colorado Rockies. Admittedly, the Diamondbacks losing to the Rockies does feel less likely, but those are the current circumstances of the NL Wild Card race.

With the playoffs feeling like a formality, the question becomes are the Cubs positioned to make a deep run in October.

The answer before Sunday was possibly. Given that Pete Crow-Armstrong is going to be the National League MVP, and how Alex Bregman has looked during the second-half of the season, the belief was the offense could be a reason why the Cubs had success in the playoffs.

Cubs' maigic number is one, but Alex Bregman's injury only adds to playoff concern

Now, it's uncertain if Bregman will be available for the Cubs during the National League Wild Card Series. Bregman is recovering from multiple facial fractures and while he opted against surgery with the hope of returning during the playoffs, there's no telling when the swelling around his eye will subside. Once it does, Bregman presumably will make an effort to return to the field, but even then, the question becomes how effective will be, considering there will be some since his appearance.

Bregman's injury, of course, isn't the only concern for the Cubs ahead of the playoffs. The Athletic recently ranked the pitching staffs of contenders, and of the 13 teams ranked, the Cubs landed at No. 10.

One of the things the Cubs will need to figure out before next Tuesday is who will be the go-to options in the bullpen. The answer seems to change with each passing day, but the right now, Daniel Palencia returning to form could be the key.

Palencia worked a perfect two-inning save against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, striking out three of the six hitters he faced. In fact, he has stacked together four consecutive scoreless outings. The bullpen is a concern but if Palencia truly has returned to being the dominant closer he was during the World Baseball Classic, that would be a significant development for the Cubs.

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