The Chicago Cubs had their rotation lined up perfectly against the Arizona Diamondbacks, beginning with Cy Young Award candidate Justin Steele on Friday night, but the team laid an egg, losing 6-4. The Cubs have now lost six of their last eight games and thanks to Friday’s loss they have also lost another head-to-head tiebreaker against a Wild Card contender.

The Diamondbacks quieted the Cubs offense last week at Wrigley Field, winning three of four against the Cubs and Friday’s win clinched their season series. The Cubs begin Saturday 1.5 games ahead of Arizona and the Cincinnati Reds for the second Wild Card spot. Out of the five teams still with a realistic shot at earning a playoff berth through the Wild Card, four of them hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Cubs.

The only team the Cubs have an edge over are the San Francisco Giants, who the Cubs beat five out of six times this season.

After tonight's loss here's a look at where the Cubs' head-to-head tiebreakers stand in NL Wild Card race:

Cubs hold tiebreakers over: Giants
Teams with tiebreakers over Cubs: Phillies, Diamondbacks, Reds, Marlins

Not a great position to be in as the Cubs cling to 2nd WC spot.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) September 16, 2023

Wild Card Standings Update

Friday night was tough for the Cubs, as not only did they lose to one of the teams trying to chase them down, but the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins all won and crept closer in the Wild Card standings.

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NL Wild Card Standings
Phillies: 80-67 (+4)
Cubs: 78-70 (+1.5)
Reds: 77-72 (-)
Diamondbacks: 77-72 (-)
Marlins: 76-72 (0.5 GB)
Giants: 75-72 (1 GB)

So, the Cubs, who are 7-8 to begin September, have to finish ahead in the standings because if they’re tied with a few teams, they’ll only beat out the Giants when it comes to a tiebreaker.

Following the next two games in Arizona, the Cubs return to Wrigley Field next week for a six-game home stand, with three games apiece against the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs will end the regular season with six games on the road, playing two, three-game series against the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers.