Mapping Cubs' road to the World Series after clinching home field in the first round

In 2018, the Chicago Cubs imploded down the stretch, lost Game 163 (and the division) to the Milwaukee Brewers and were relegated to a winner-take-all NL Wild Card Game against the Colorado Rockies. They lost that matchup in extra innings and that was the last time fans experienced postseason baseball at Wrigley Field.

This year, although they fell victim to a historic summer run by the Brewers that put the NL Central out of reach, Craig Counsell's club secured the top wild card seed in the National League and will host the San Diego Padres in the best-of-three NL Wild Card Series starting Tuesday at Wrigley Field.

Chicago wraps up the regular season on Sunday against the rival St. Louis Cardinals in a game that will likely feature a lot of bench pieces in the starting lineup as the Cubs line their pieces up for Tuesday's opener against the Friars. While there's still some uncertainty in the postseason bracket, we already know that Chicago's path to the Fall Classic will feature some intimate foes.

This is the playoff journey ahead of the Cubs

NL Wild Card Series v. San Diego

Things get started on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Game times haven't been announced yet, nor do we know probable pitchers - but one thing we do know is we won't see Cade Horton in the Wild Card round after he was placed on the 15-day IL with a right rib fracture.

The good news for Chicago? San Diego was an abysmal road team this season - it was certainly in the Cubs' best interest to host, not only for the environment and boost it could provide, but because the Padres haven't proven they can regularly win when not playing at Petco Park.

NL Division Series v. Milwaukee

If the Cubs get past the Padres, things get really interesting - because all roads lead to Milwaukee, which not only won the National League Central for the third straight season and fourth time in five years, but secured the #1 overall seed in the Senior Circuit.

Chicago went 7-6 against the Brewers this season but, like I said, Pat Murphy's club ran away with the division. If the Cubs want a shot at a pennant, they'll have to take on Milwaukee, with the Brewers hosting three games in the best-of-five series. One thing to keep an eye on: Horton is technically eligible to return from the IL the day before Game 5 of the NLDS - a winner-take-all contest with the Rookie of the Year frontrunner making his return at Miller Park? Talk about electric.

NL Championship Series v TBD

If the Cubs take care of business against the Padres and Brewers, their NLCS opponent is yet to be determined. The New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds are tied for the final playoff spot in the National League heading into Sunday - but Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker thanks to coming out ahead head-to-head.

So potential Championship Series opponents include the Reds and Mets, not to mention the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. But, again, the NLCS doesn't get started until mid-October, so let's just keep our focus on the Wild Card Series and see where things shake out. It's a long road to a pennant, let alone a World Series ring.