29

Hey hey! The Cubs beat Miami 6-1 on Friday behind a quality start from Shota Imanaga (6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K), three scoreless relief innings from Aaron Civale, a Michael Busch home run, three hits from Nico Hoerner, and a spectacular catch at the wall by Pete Crow-Armstrong!

 

PCA also scored twice and swiped another bag, inching him closer to a rare 40/40 season. He currently has 39 home runs and 33 stolen bases.

 

Imanaga induced 17 whiffs as Carson Kelly changed up his technique, holding his mitt about a foot above the strike zone, and as Shota relied heavily on his splitter.

 

Cubs Magic Numbers: 

Division:  29
Top Wild Card & Home Field:  20
Wild Card:  14

See this post for CMN calculation details.
 
Here's how the remainder of the season shapes up:
 

5 vs. 70-70 Miami (2 road, 3 home)
3 at 88-54 Milwaukee
3 vs. 70-72 Pittsburgh
3 vs. 84-57 Atlanta
3 at 67-74 Cincinnati
3 at 77-65 Boston

The Cubs currently sit eight games back of Milwaukee in the NL Central, 1/2 game ahead of Philadelphia in the race for the top NL Wild Card berth and its benefit of home field for all NLWCS games, and six games ahead of Arizona for the final NL Wild Card berth.
 
142 games down, 20 to go.
 
Go Cubs go!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs