The Cubs have a one-game lead over the Brewers in the National League Central with two games left, thanks to their 8-4 victory over the Cardinals on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Their magic number to win the division is two.
The Brewers defeated the Tigers 6-5 on Friday night in Milwaukee.
The Rockies, who entered the night one game ahead of the Dodgers in the NL West, clinched a playoff spot by beating the Nationals 5-2 for their eighth straight victory. The Dodgers won, too, and are a game behind in the West and lead the Cardinals by two games in the wild-card race.
A look at the Central race:
1. Cubs
Record: 94-66.
Magic number: 2 to win division title; clinched wild-card berth.
Playoff probability (Fangraphs.com): 80.9 percent to win division, 19.1 to win wild card.
Friday: Beat Cardinals 8-4 at Wrigley Field.
Games remaining: 2 (2 home).
Versus .500-plus teams: 2.
Remaining schedule
Saturday: vs. Cardinals, 12:05 p.m., FOX-32.
RH Miles Mikolas (17-4, 2.94) vs. LH Cole Hamels (9-11, 3.87).
Sunday: vs. Cardinals, 2:20 p.m., NBCSCH.
RH Jack Flaherty (8-8, 3.16) vs. LH Mike Montgomery (5-6, 3.99).
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2. Brewers
Record: 93-67, 1 games behind.
Magic number: 4 to win division; clinched No. 1 wild-card spot.
Playoff probability: 19.1 percent to win division, 80.9 percent to win wild card.
Friday: Beat Tigers 6-5.
Games remaining (including Friday): 2 (2 home).
Versus .500-plus teams: 0.
Remaining schedule
Saturday: vs. Tigers, 6:10 p.m.
Sunday: vs. Tigers, 2:10 p.m.
3. Cardinals
Record: 87-73, 7 games behind; eliminated from Central contention.
Playoff probability: 1.1 percent to earn No. 2 wild-card spot.
Friday: Lost to Cubs 8-4 at Wrigley Field.
Games remaining: 2 (2 road).
Versus .500-plus teams: 2.
Remaining schedule
Saturday: at Cubs, 12:05 p.m.
Sunday: at Cubs, 2:20 p.m.
