Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are 89-73, 5th in the National League. See their playoff chances, the record they likely need, and how each remaining game moves the odds.
Common questions
Can the Chicago Cubs still make the playoffs?
The Chicago Cubs are 89-73, 5th in the National League. Their live playoff odds, magic number and the games they need are on this page, updated after every game.
What record do the Chicago Cubs need to make the playoffs?
This page lists every final record the Chicago Cubs could finish with and how often each one gets them into the MLB playoffs in simulated seasons.
How the MLB playoffs work
- 12 teams make the playoffs, six from each league (AL and NL): the three division winners and three wild cards.
- The two division winners with the best records get byes to the Division Series. The third division winner is the 3 seed; wild cards are 4–6.
- Wild Card Series (best-of-three, all at the higher seed): 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. Then the Division Series (best-of-five), League Championship Series (best-of-seven) and the World Series (best-of-seven).
- There are no tiebreaker games: ties in the standings are settled on paper.
Tiebreakers
Head-to-head record, then record within the division, then record within the league.
How the odds work
The odds come from playing out the rest of the season thousands of times. Each simulated game is decided by the two teams’ records so far, pulled toward average early in the season, and teams that finish level are separated with the league’s official tiebreakers.