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Cubs Face Four-Game Slide After Brewers Sweep, But Stay Ahead in Wild Card Race
Chicago Cubs are in the midst of a four‑game losing streak after being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers. The loss leaves the Cubs at 81‑66, a 2½‑game advantage over the next team in the National League Wild Card race. Outside of the Arizona Diamondbacks, every other club not in the postseason is at least five games behind, giving Chicago a modest buffer as the season enters its final stretch.
The Brewers completed a three‑game sweep in Milwaukee, winning the series 5‑0 in the first game and 8‑6 in the third. The Cubs’ offense struggled to generate runs, and the Brewers’ pitching staff kept the Cubs’ lineup in check. In the third game, right‑hander Kevin Gausman was pulled after four innings, having allowed eight hits and six earned runs. Gausman said, “We don’t have time to sulk. We’ve just got to keep our head down and keep playing really good baseball. And just continue to be confident.” He added that he needed to “pitch better” and that “it comes back to execution.” The Cubs’ manager, Craig Counsell, emphasized that the team should focus on the next game rather than the standings. “Look, again, our job is to win games,” Counsell said before the Wednesday game. “That’s what we can control. That’s what we can do. The Wild Card race doesn’t affect any decisions. The decisions are happening during the game here.”
Despite the recent losses, the Cubs’ front office and coaching staff remain confident that the team can stay in the playoff race. Outfielder Ian Happ said the Cubs have “put ourselves in a position where we kind of control our own destiny.” Happ added that the team’s goal is to play “playoff baseball, no matter how that shakes out.” The comments came from a Wednesday interview with Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, and they reflect the Cubs’ belief that they can still win the Wild Card spot.
The Cubs’ next series is against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are also in the Wild Card mix. The Pirates’ record is 70‑71, and they are 2½ games behind the Cubs in the standings. The series will begin on Thursday, September 14, at Wrigley Field. The outcome will be a key test of how the Cubs respond to a losing streak and whether they can maintain their advantage over the rest of the league.
The Cubs’ 81‑66 record places them 2½ games ahead of the next team in the Wild Card race, but the margin is not large enough to ignore the pressure of the final month. The team’s offense has been inconsistent, and the pitching staff has struggled to keep opponents off balance. The Brewers’ sweep highlighted the need for the Cubs to tighten up on both sides of the ball. The Cubs’ front office has not announced any major roster moves, and the team’s coaching staff has emphasized that the next series will be a “do‑or‑die” situation.
In the broader context of the National League, the Cubs are the only team in the Wild Card race that is not five games behind the next club. The Arizona Diamondbacks are the closest competitor, but they are still 2½ games behind the Cubs. The rest of the league is at least five games out of the playoff picture. The Cubs’ buffer is therefore small, and a string of losses could quickly erode it.
The Cubs’ upcoming series against the Pirates will be a decisive moment. If the Cubs can win the series, they will extend their lead and keep the pressure on the rest of the league. If they lose, the margin will shrink and the Wild Card race will become more competitive. The Cubs’ management has stated that the team’s focus remains on winning games, and the coaching staff has reiterated that the next series will be played with the same intensity as any other game. The Cubs’ fans will be watching closely to see whether the team can turn the slide into a winning streak and secure a playoff berth.
The Brewers completed a three‑game sweep in Milwaukee, winning the series 5‑0 in the first game and 8‑6 in the third. The Cubs’ offense struggled to generate runs, and the Brewers’ pitching staff kept the Cubs’ lineup in check. In the third game, right‑hander Kevin Gausman was pulled after four innings, having allowed eight hits and six earned runs. Gausman said, “We don’t have time to sulk. We’ve just got to keep our head down and keep playing really good baseball. And just continue to be confident.” He added that he needed to “pitch better” and that “it comes back to execution.” The Cubs’ manager, Craig Counsell, emphasized that the team should focus on the next game rather than the standings. “Look, again, our job is to win games,” Counsell said before the Wednesday game. “That’s what we can control. That’s what we can do. The Wild Card race doesn’t affect any decisions. The decisions are happening during the game here.”
Despite the recent losses, the Cubs’ front office and coaching staff remain confident that the team can stay in the playoff race. Outfielder Ian Happ said the Cubs have “put ourselves in a position where we kind of control our own destiny.” Happ added that the team’s goal is to play “playoff baseball, no matter how that shakes out.” The comments came from a Wednesday interview with Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, and they reflect the Cubs’ belief that they can still win the Wild Card spot.
The Cubs’ next series is against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are also in the Wild Card mix. The Pirates’ record is 70‑71, and they are 2½ games behind the Cubs in the standings. The series will begin on Thursday, September 14, at Wrigley Field. The outcome will be a key test of how the Cubs respond to a losing streak and whether they can maintain their advantage over the rest of the league.
The Cubs’ 81‑66 record places them 2½ games ahead of the next team in the Wild Card race, but the margin is not large enough to ignore the pressure of the final month. The team’s offense has been inconsistent, and the pitching staff has struggled to keep opponents off balance. The Brewers’ sweep highlighted the need for the Cubs to tighten up on both sides of the ball. The Cubs’ front office has not announced any major roster moves, and the team’s coaching staff has emphasized that the next series will be a “do‑or‑die” situation.
In the broader context of the National League, the Cubs are the only team in the Wild Card race that is not five games behind the next club. The Arizona Diamondbacks are the closest competitor, but they are still 2½ games behind the Cubs. The rest of the league is at least five games out of the playoff picture. The Cubs’ buffer is therefore small, and a string of losses could quickly erode it.
The Cubs’ upcoming series against the Pirates will be a decisive moment. If the Cubs can win the series, they will extend their lead and keep the pressure on the rest of the league. If they lose, the margin will shrink and the Wild Card race will become more competitive. The Cubs’ management has stated that the team’s focus remains on winning games, and the coaching staff has reiterated that the next series will be played with the same intensity as any other game. The Cubs’ fans will be watching closely to see whether the team can turn the slide into a winning streak and secure a playoff berth.
