Chicago Cubs magic number after deflating weekend series against the Diamondbacks

It was a deflating weekend for the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs began a four-game weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks last Thursday and it was another instance where the Cubs could have separated themselves from the cluster of teams that are trying to reach them for the second Wild Card spot in the National League.

After sweeping the San Francisco Giants at the start of last week, the Cubs struggled against the Diamondbacks as they lost the first three game of the series before salvaging the final game of the series on Sunday.

The Diamondbacks now enter the week as the final Wild Card team in the National League and only two games behind the Cubs for the second Wild Card spot. By dropping three of four games to the Diamondbacks, the Cubs have also not put themselves in a position where they need to sweep Arizona next weekend on the road if they want to hold the tie-breaker over the team that trails them by two games in the Wild Card standings.

The Cubs' chances of winning the National League Central also took a dramatic hit over the weekend. The Milwaukee Brewers took two of three games against the New York Yankees and now hold a three-game lead over the Cubs in the division. In fact, the Cubs no longer control their own destiny in the National League Central race.

What is the Chicago Cubs magic number to make the post-season?

Fortunately, the Cubs still control their own destiny in regard to securing the second Wild Card spot in the National League. Entering play on Monday, the Cubs' magic number to clinch the second Wild Card spot in the National League is 16.

The Cubs will have a chance to get right at the beginning of the week as the team begins a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.

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