Chicago Cubs magic number entering crucial series against the Pittsburgh Pirates

If the Major League Baseball postseason started today, the Chicago Cubs would just barely qualify for the postseason.

The Cubs were swept against the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend and not only did the sweep secure the Diamondbacks' tiebreaker advantage over the Cubs but it also pushed the team out of the current postseason picture beginning the week.

The Miami Marlins lost to the New York Mets on Monday and that has pushed the Cubs back into a postseason spot as they lay claim to the final wild-card spot in the National League entering play on Tuesday.

The Cubs are tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the final spot in the National League wild-card picture but hold the tiebreaker advantage over their National League Central counterpart.

It should be worth noting that the Cubs no longer control their own destiny for securing the second wild-card spot in the National League.

What is the Chicago Cubs magic number?

The Cubs' magic number entering play on Tuesday is 12. It should be worth noting that the most likely outcome for the Cubs would be that they make the postseason as the final wild-card team in the National League. This will mean that all of the Cubs' postseason games would be on the road for their first series in October.

The Cubs have a prime opportunity to get their season back on track with their next two series. The Cubs will host the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies over the course of the next six days at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have dominated the Pirates over the course of the season but struggled against the Rockies last week in Colorado.

The Cubs are not a great team but they are a good team and there will be no excuse for the team if they come out flat over their next two series.

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