NL Central Discussion 2026

[nate82]

2 hours ago, MrTPlush said:

Just like that the divisional race is over and the Cubs are on the verge of just a 2.5 game lead on the Padres.

Cubs remaining schedule 3 vs Pirates, 3 vs Braves, 3 @ Reds, 3 vs Marlins and then finishing 3 @ Red Sox.  The Reds and Marlins series probably the easiest of the 15 remaining.  If the Pirates can some how sweep the Cubs that puts them back into the playoff discussion.  Its possible the Cubs completely miss the playoffs with that remaining schedule.  The only positive the Cubs have is that the Dbacks and Padres play each other which helps the Cubs as only one of them can win.  

The Pirates though if they can sweep the Cubs only have 3 vs the Brewers and then they play 3 vs Royals, 3 vs Cardinals and then 3 @ Tigers.  The Pirates have an easy schedule after the Cubs and Brewers series.  They would have to at least win the series against the Cubs and then win the series against the Brewers.  Then go 7-2 to finish the season.  A sweep of the Cubs and they gain 3 games on the Cubs.  

The Padres also have an easy schedule left with 3 @ Giants, 4 @ Rockies, 3 vs Marlins, 3 @ Dodgers and then 3 vs Dbacks.  Other than the Dodgers and Dbacks that is a fairly easy schedule for the Padres.

The Dbacks also have a little bit more difficult schedule than the Padres but not by much.  I only say this as they have a the Rangers and Marlins who are still decent teams.  Dbacks have 3 vs Rangers, 3 vs Marlins, 3 vs Yankees, 3 @ Rockies and then finish 3 @ Padres.  

The final two wild cards could come down to the last week of the season.  The Pirates have to take care of business this weekend against the Cubs to have a chance.  It is still more likely that the Cubs make the playoffs but there is a small chance they don't and it could be the Dbacks or the Pirates with the final wild card spot.  

[formerlybis]

7 hours ago, nate82 said:

Cubs remaining schedule 3 vs Pirates, 3 vs Braves, 3 @ Reds, 3 vs Marlins and then finishing 3 @ Red Sox.  The Reds and Marlins series probably the easiest of the 15 remaining.  If the Pirates can some how sweep the Cubs that puts them back into the playoff discussion.  Its possible the Cubs completely miss the playoffs with that remaining schedule.  The only positive the Cubs have is that the Dbacks and Padres play each other which helps the Cubs as only one of them can win.  

The Pirates though if they can sweep the Cubs only have 3 vs the Brewers and then they play 3 vs Royals, 3 vs Cardinals and then 3 @ Tigers.  The Pirates have an easy schedule after the Cubs and Brewers series.  They would have to at least win the series against the Cubs and then win the series against the Brewers.  Then go 7-2 to finish the season.  A sweep of the Cubs and they gain 3 games on the Cubs.  

The Padres also have an easy schedule left with 3 @ Giants, 4 @ Rockies, 3 vs Marlins, 3 @ Dodgers and then 3 vs Dbacks.  Other than the Dodgers and Dbacks that is a fairly easy schedule for the Padres.

The Dbacks also have a little bit more difficult schedule than the Padres but not by much.  I only say this as they have a the Rangers and Marlins who are still decent teams.  Dbacks have 3 vs Rangers, 3 vs Marlins, 3 vs Yankees, 3 @ Rockies and then finish 3 @ Padres.  

The final two wild cards could come down to the last week of the season.  The Pirates have to take care of business this weekend against the Cubs to have a chance.  It is still more likely that the Cubs make the playoffs but there is a small chance they don't and it could be the Dbacks or the Pirates with the final wild card spot.  

I hadn’t been paying attention to the Buckos - now I’m considering who between them and the Cubs is a harder matchup for us. I still think it’s the Cubs, but more for the nearness of the fanbase. Pirates have been tough for us.

[markedman5]

Pirates chances seem to be closer to none then slim

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2026-playoff-odds.shtml

[HarryDoyle]

1 hour ago, markedman5 said:

Pirates chances seem to be closer to none then slim

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2026-playoff-odds.shtml

It is none. It's a four-team race for the three wild card spots now.

[formerlybis]

Now that I actually look at the standings, the Cubs magic # to eliminate Pitt is only 9, With this few games left, it's not impossible, but would take huge streaks in both directions beyond just the 3-game series this weekend

[SeaBass]

The way things have gone, I think the Cubs would be a favorable playoff draw. Still scary though, their offense is more than capable of just getting white hot and carrying them.

[BruisedCrew]

54 minutes ago, SeaBass said:

The way things have gone, I think the Cubs would be a favorable playoff draw. Still scary though, their offense is more than capable of just getting white hot and carrying them.

I’m in the camp that just doesn’t want the Brewers to play the Cubs in the playoffs again. The playoffs can be stressful enough for a fan without the possibility of giving the Cubs and their fans the opportunity to say “we won when it counted”. 

Any one of the likely playoff teams would be a tough opponent. But having the Brewers lose to the Cubs would be the most painful. 

[RWeeksFan23]

1 hour ago, BruisedCrew said:

I’m in the camp that just doesn’t want the Brewers to play the Cubs in the playoffs again. The playoffs can be stressful enough for a fan without the possibility of giving the Cubs and their fans the opportunity to say “we won when it counted”. 

Any one of the likely playoff teams would be a tough opponent. But having the Brewers lose to the Cubs would be the most painful. 

It works both ways though. When we beat them, it feels THAT much better!

[SeaBass]

1 hour ago, BruisedCrew said:

I’m in the camp that just doesn’t want the Brewers to play the Cubs in the playoffs again. The playoffs can be stressful enough for a fan without the possibility of giving the Cubs and their fans the opportunity to say “we won when it counted”. 

Any one of the likely playoff teams would be a tough opponent. But having the Brewers lose to the Cubs would be the most painful. 

That's always the danger, yes. I feel like it's going to be painful anyway if they lose, it will have an extra edge if they lose to the Cubs but winning that matchup would also be pretty sweet. These two teams are electric when they play each other, good baseball is worth the risk.

I'm not really saying I want it either but the Cubs have flaws and the Brewers have gotten the better of them more often than not.

[82brewcrew82]

As many on here have noted, the playoffs are a crapshoot so the Cubs could beat the Brewers.  I believe that the Brewers are just a bad matchup for the Cubs.  Honestly, I don't fear any potential opponent from a matchup perspective.

[BruisedCrew]

2 hours ago, RWeeksFan23 said:

It works both ways though. When we beat them, it feels THAT much better!

I don’t know if that’s true and I know I don’t feel that way about it. 

The Brewers already have a significant leg up on the Cubs. They have already won 5 division titles since the Cubs won one in a legitimate season and number 6 is days away. They also won Game 163 in 2018 and the NLDS series last year.
 

Beating them once more after dominating them for so long doesn’t add that much. But seeing them move on while the Brewers are  sent home would hurt more than losing to the Phillies or Braves. And winning a playoff series  against ANYONE is exciting. The Brewers haven’t had that many of those. 
 

 

[HarveysWBs]

Since 1970, when the Pilots became the Brewers, they are 4432-4553 (.493), while the Cubs are 4401-4574 (.490). In that time, the head-to-head matchup favors Milwaukee 239-230, and 3-2 in the playoffs after last year. The Brewers have won eight non-COVID division titles (about to be nine), while the Cubs have won seven. The Brewers have ten playoff appearances, and the Cubs have eleven (about to be eleven and twelve, respectively). The two teams each have one pennant. But, of course, there's 2016.

The teams are really close. The last four years especially have given Milwaukee a slight edge. But that one big piece remains to really break through.

So, as someone who lives amongst an unfortunate number of Cubs fans, I understand and largely agree with the desire to avoid the chance of an offseason of Cubs crowing (my gosh, the Bears fans are more than enough). But this year, the Brewers have as good a chance against anyone as they ever have. I'll be nervous as heck watching any matchup, and maybe 5% more nervous if it is the Cubs. But it is time to finish the job, and I hope this is the year.

[nate82]

It’s an extremely long shot for the Pirates but I have seen weirder things happen.  The Pirates are one team I don’t want to see the Brewers play in the playoffs.  I also don’t want to see the Padres either.  

[MrTPlush]

Cubs pitching is horrendous. I’ll happily play them in any 5 or 7 game series. Our offense needs the help of a matchup in the postseason much more than our pitching does.