Quantifying Hope: Cubs Enter Weekend Boasting 72% Postseason Odds

The Cubs aren’t entirely out of the woods in terms of their tough early schedule, especially with the Giants looming after this NL Central road trip, but their division rivals are down this season. That means they need to keep stepping on throats and banking as many wins as possible here in May. One aspect of a very tough April is that the Cubs had six days off. They only have four scheduled breaks this month and two in June, so staying on the gas now can allow them to cruise as needed later in the season.

This is Chicago’s division to lose, as evidenced by their 71.8% playoff odds heading into Friday’s game in Milwaukee. As you can see in the graph below, the trends have been very consistent for both the Cubs and their rivals. The Brewers remain the most formidable of those, at least according to the computers, making this series a big one.

More than anything the various prediction models say, there’s a big mental boost to be gained from taking at least two north of the Cheddar Curtain. The opposite is true about losing two or more, but let’s not think about that. Punching the Brewers in the mouth would shrink their odds the same way new umpire evaluations have diminished the strike zone, plus it’s great for bragging rights.

After all, living rent-free in a fanbase’s collective head is even more fun when you can turn the music up and stomp on the floor.