The Next Phase

In Major League Baseball by Rice Cube75 Comments

Other than being the title of a pretty cool Star Trek episode, this coming week marks the next phase in the Cubs race towards extra baseball in October. As it stands, the Cubs stand 3.5 games back of NL Central leader Milwaukee, so they didn’t lose too much ground after an unfortunate (but ultimately acceptable) split in Cincinnati. They are also 2.5 games back of Philly for the top wild card spot and 3 games up on the final spot, so there is a cushion to work with should they falter this week. However, said teams behind the Cubs have all had their issues, which is why that cushion remains despite the hiccups with the bullpen and offense and possibly David Ross being a conundrum.

Let’s take a look at the week’s slate:

Cubs –> at home vs SF (3) & AZ (4); I’m hoping for 4-3 or better, basically they should avoid losing either series.

Reds –> vs Mariners (3) & STL (3); Mariners may be helpful as they are on a tear, but the Cardinals have lost some devil magic so who knows with them. Reds have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Cubs so it would be best for the Reds to crash this week.

Diamondbacks –> they will host the Rockies (3) before heading to Chicago and I’m pretty sure the Rockies will be absolutely useless in that series, but strange things are afoot this time of year and the various Rockies playing for their next shot might not mind being spoilers.

Philly –> at Padres (3) & vs Marlins (3); the Padres just won a crucial series (for the Giants anyway) against SF before the Wrigley series so they might yet play spoiler some more, while the Marlins are suddenly one of the contenders tied for that final wild card spot so they should be suitably motivated to work over the Phillies.

Marlins –> 3 vs LA before their series in Philly, so maybe the Dodgers work them over since LA is still mathematically in the hunt for the top seed instead of their current second seed, either way the Dodgers are most likely earning a bye.

Giants –> after Wrigley, they’ll host the Rockies for 3 and as stated above, the Rockies are likely to be useless so it behooves the Cubs to win their series as they did earlier this season.

Brewers –> @ PIT (3) & @ Yankees (3); I expect the Pirates to be of no help and the Yankees did just sweep the Astros for the first time in a decade, but they’ve been trash for a while and the Brewers did channel the dark dimension for their most recent winning run before they ran into the Cubs, so if they continue to run the table the division may be slipping away, though if the Cubs hold serve they’ll keep that series at the end of the season very intriguing.

You wanted meaningful baseball in September, you got it.

Share this Post

Comments

  1. Perkins

    ⚾️ Immaculate Grid 155 9/9:
    Rarity: 46
    IMMACULATE!
    🟩🟩🟩
    🟩🟩🟩
    🟩🟩🟩

    One of my better days. Surprised to see both of Edwin Jackson and Fernando Rodney in double digits where I used them.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  4. Perkins

    I think this was discussed during yesterday’s game thread (I did not read every word), but I just don’t see how the Cubs could include Taillon on the postseason roster if they get that far. He’s had like one good month and otherwise has been Tyler Chatwood levels of awful.

      Quote  Reply

    1

    0
  28. BVS

    ⚾️ Immaculate Grid 155 9/9:
    Rarity: 53
    IMMACULATE!
    🟩🟩🟩
    🟩🟩🟩
    🟩🟩🟩

    Beltre in the Paul Lynde square was over half my rarity.

    Today’s Cubs game made working on odds and ends in the garage a lot of fun.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  29. BVS

    Guardians C David Fry pitched 4 innings and gave up 7 runs including 3 homers to the Twins. But he still pitched better than Giolito.

      Quote  Reply

    2

    0
  33. andcounting

    Still kinda (dying laughing) at RC referring in the moment to one of Steele’s old starts as “bad Steele” because he had given up three runs. That’s basically the level he’s achieved. Three runs in one game is an aberration. I still think it would take a bit of a miracle run for him to win the Cy Young, but performances like that against teams in the playoff hunt (in a year when no one is absolutely dominating) go a long way toward building the hype.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  34. Perkins

    Am I the only one who finds it kind of weird the Dodgers backed out of a Chapman trade but ended up with a couple of lady beaters on their roster anyway?

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  36. berselius

    I was a little surprised that I was getting the local ads while listening to the radio stream today, then remembered that I am in Wisconsin (dying laughing)

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  42. andcounting

    ⚾️ Immaculate Grid 156 9/9:
    Rarity: 192
    IMMACULATE!
    🟩🟩🟩
    🟩🟩🟩
    🟩🟩🟩
    Play at:
    https://immaculategrid.com
    @immaculategrid x @baseball_ref

    I did speed round today and got hung up on Phillies/A’s. Ended up guessing Joe Morgan but clicked the wrong Joe Morgan only to discover he was an also-correct, white player by the same name good for a .02% rarity score, (dying laughing).

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  58. Perkins

    Saw an interesting thought experiment a few weeks back: you can’t choose Rizzo or Baez – who’s your favorite Cub of the past 20 years?

    My brain says Maddux but my heart says Carlos Zambrano.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0

Leave a Comment