Five games remain in the 2026 regular season.The Cubs, Padres and Phillies are currently tied for the top Wild Card spot at 87-70, with the Cubs holding the tiebreaker in any of the two-team or three-team tie scenarios among those clubs.The Diamondbacks are 83-74 and on the verge of elimination, four games behind all three clubs; their elimination number with the Cubs is 1, so the Cubs can clinch a Wild Card spot by defeating the Marlins Wednesday (or a D-backs loss to the Rockies).This is where it’s really fortunate that the Cubs have that tiebreaker over the Padres and Phillies. If all three teams wound up tied at the end of the regular season, the Cubs would get the first wild card spot. In that scenario they’d host the Phillies, because Philadelphia swept their season series 6-0 over San Diego. Here are all the various tiebreaker rules.This article in The Athletic noting the odds and percentages for various postseason scenarios has been updated through Tuesday’s games, so let’s have another look at the various odds and chances.First, here are the percentage odds for the possible postseason matchups for the first two rounds:As you can see, compared to the last post I made on this topic on Monday, the chances for the Cubs to be the No. 4 seed (and top Wild Card) have decreased from 60 percent to 45 percent. The Cubs still control their own destiny — win out and they’re the top Wild Card.The Brewers are still very likely to be the No. 1 National League seed. They currently lead the Dodgers by two games and hold the tiebreaker.Now, here are the Cubs’ percentages of making the postseason and where they would wind up, based on each possible W/L record in the remaining six games:The Cubs still are 60 percent or better to host the Wild Card Seires next week if they can go at least 3-2 over the five remaining games. Going 4-1 or 5-0, obviously, increases those odds.The good news is that even if the unthinkable happens and the Cubs don’t win another game, they still have a 94 percent chance of getting into the postseason as the No. 6 seed.But let’s be positive and think about taking the next two games from the Marlins. That would be a huge boost.Now, here’s what we know about the series this weekend between the Cubs and Red Sox scheduled to begin at 6:10 p.m. CT Friday at Fenway Park.As I wrote yesterday, I think the best move would be to move the series to a neutral site, perhaps Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The league seems disinclined to do that. Instead, this might happen:MLB has no plans to move Cubs-Red Sox out of Boston this weekend.The forecast looks particularly bad beginning Saturday evening. It’s possible they try to play all three games before then.— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) September 22, 2026Looking toward the bad weather expected in Boston,The league does not appear ready to change the venue. Playing on the Monday is an option.Starting games earlier and possible Double header also possible. Cubs must comple
Content Source: Yahoo News
Image Credit: Getty Images
All rights to the news content and images belong to their respective copyright owners.