Countdown Until Cubs Opening Day 2018Countdown

As rough as that NLCS was, the Cubs had a helluva 2017 season. They won the NL Central Division for the second straight season, made the playoffs for the third straight season, and won their way to the NLCS for the third straight season.

After being in fourth place on May 14th and sitting 5.5 games back of first to start the day on July 16, they finished the month 10-3 and went 36-22 in August, September, and October to finish the season with 92 victories.

Wade Davis was spectacular, converting 32 of 33 save opportunities. Six Cub hitters had 20 or more home runs. Anthony Rizzo had more walks than strikeouts (a rarity in 2017), a career-high OBP, and a fielding percentage that bested all other NL first basemen.

Putting this three-year stretch in historical perspective highlights how much fun these past few years have been for Cubs fans:  only the 1906-1910 Cubs have had more success (four 1st place finishes, a 2nd place finish, and two World Series titles in three appearances during that five-year stretch).

The 2015-2017 Cubs are the first to have back-to-back-to-back .500-or-better seasons since 2007-2009, and the 2017 Cubs are the first defending World Series champions to win their division since the 2009 Phillies.

(Not to mention, they took 14 of 19 regular season games from the Cardinals, knocking them out of the playoff picture along the way.)

We here at CMN are looking forward to another fun season of baseball on the north side in 2018. Until then, here's the Cubs Magic Number to reach the 2018 postseason:

163

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Image Credits:  Chicago Cubs / MLB

7

That's right, we aren't going down without a fight! Cubs take the do or die game 4 with two cracks from Baez and one from Contreras.

In a change of pace, Arrieta went 6.2 innings only allowing one run. Davis pitched two hard innings to send us to game 5!

It's must win tomorrow night at 7pm. Let's go!!!

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8

Game 4 of the NLCS starts at 8:00 p.m. CT Wednesday. The North Siders have an uphill climb, down three games to none in the best-of-seven series, but these Cubs have overcome deficits before. 

Jake Arrieta takes the mound for Chicago tonight; he has a 3.33 ERA in eight postseason starts.

Game 5 would be Thursday at 7:00 p.m. CT. Follow CMN on Twitter.

Go Cubs go!

Image Credit: Chicago Cubs / MLB

8

For the third season in a row, the Cubs are heading to the

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES!

It took everything they had, and then some, but the Northsiders defeat the Nats 9-8.

Come back here Saturday at 7pm for game 1 of the NLCS in Los Angeles!

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9

It was a tough, wet afternoon at Wrigley for the Cubs in NLDS Game 4, so it's back to DC for the series finale on Thursday. Kyle Hendricks takes the mound for Chicago and Tanner Roark Max Scherzer Gio Gonzalez will (most likely) take the mound for the Nats. Game time is 7 pm Central.

Hendricks has a 1.98 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in eight postseason starts. That's Cub.

Go Cubs go!

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Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune

Photo Credit: Wrigleyville Nation

9

Cubs are one win away from the NLCS! 

They take game three 2-1 after great pitching all around and an amazing RBI by Anthony Rizzo!

Photo Credit: Chicago Cubs 

Tuesday's game has been postponed due to weather. It's been rescheduled to Wednesday. First pitch at 3:08pm CDT. See you all then!

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10

The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs leave Washington with a split, as the NLDS is tied one game apiece heading to Wrigley. Game 3 of the series is Monday in Chicago, and Game 4 will be Tuesday. 

Go Cubs go!

10

Cubs 3 - Nationals 0

Photo Credit: Chicago Cubs

Who are the underdogs now? Kyle Hendricks pitched one of the best games of his career only allowing two hits and three walks. Both of those hits came in the first two innings. Edwards Jr and Davis helpped to hold the Nats in the 8th and 9th to cap off this shutout.

Hendricks and the pen were backed up by some clutch hitting from Rizzo (2 RBIs), Bryant (1 RBI), and Jay. 

The Cubs now lead the Nats 1-0 in this best of 5 National League Division Series and are just 10 wins away from the prize!

Join us Saturday at 4:30pm CST for game 2!

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11

The Chicago Cubs are the 2017 NL Central Division champions for the second year in a row! They'll continue their quest to defend their 2016 World Series title at 6:31 p.m. Central Time on Friday when they face the Washington Nationals in game one of a National League Division Series.

Image Credit: Chicago Cubs

This marks the second time in Cubs history that they've reached the postseason in three consecutive seasons. It was last accomplished by the 1906-1907-1908 Cubs, who won the World Series in each of those latter two years.

This year's squad is also on a roll, having gone 17-12 in August and 19-9 in September. Since the All-Star break, the Cubs' starters have posted a 3.36 ERA. Kyle Hendricks has been particularly stellar, with a 2.19 ERA during that stretch, and Kyle Schwarber's batting average after the break is 80 points higher than it was before the All-Star break, along with a nearly 200-point increase in his OPS.

Image Credit:  MLB.com

We'll be here throughout the playoffs to count down the Cubs Magic Number. You can also follow us on Twitter!

Go Cubs go!

Source Credit

Miles, Bruce. "Cubs finish 92-70, ready for playoffs." Northwest Herald, Shaw Media, 1 Oct. 2017, www.nwherald.com/2017/10/01/cubs-finish-92-70-ready-for-playoffs/acs5a5p/.