Predicting August Outcomes to Keep the Cubs Competitive

The Cubs

Series that you have to win. In August, the Cubs get the last-place Marlins (.364 winning percentage), the second-to-last-place Nationals (.453), the last-place Blue Jays (.462), and the second-to-last-place Tigers (.466).

The Cubs must win two out of three for all these series.

Series where you can help yourself. The Cubs also get division and Wild Card rival Pittsburgh in August. Starting pitcher, Cy Young Candidate and Rookie of the Year Candidate Paul Skenes can't pitch every day so you have to win two out of three for this series.

Tough series. The Cubs get first place Cleveland Indians after they play the White Sox which will not be an easy set of games for them. Let's take a worst-case scenario and they win one out of the three.

August record: 18-8

St. Louis Cardinals

Series that they have to win. For the rest of August, the Cardinals have no easily beatable teams on their schedule.

Series where you can help yourself. The Cardinals play division and Wild Card rivals the Reds and Wild Card rivals Padres. Let's assume that they win two of those three from the Reds and they split a four-game series with the Padres.

Tough series. The Cardinals get the Dodgers, the Brewers, the Twins, and the Yankees; a brutal end to August but good news for the Cubs. Let's assume they take two from Minnesota but only one against the Dodgers, Yankees, and Brewers.

August Record: 13-15

San Diego

Series that they have to win: Last place Miami, last place Colorado, and second-to-last place Tampa Bay (though they are over .500). Let's say they take two of three on these games.

Series where they can help themselves: Pittsburgh, New York Mets, and St. Louis. Let's say that they take two games in the Pittsburgh series, and they split their four-game series with the Mets and the Cardinals.

Tough Series. Minnesota. Let's say they go 1-2 for the series.

August Record: 17-11.

New York Mets

Series that they have to win: Oakland, Miami, and the White Sox. Let's say they take two of three for these games.

Series where they can help themselves: San Diego. Assume they split the four-game series.

Tough series: Baltimore and Arizona. Assume they go 1-2 in those series.

August Record: 13-15

San Francisco

Series that they have to win: Oakland, Chicago White Sox, and Miami. Assume they take two of three in these series.

Series where they can help themselves: The Giants don't play any Wild Card rivals for the rest of August.

Tough series: Atlanta, Seattle, and Milwaukee. Let's say they split with Atlanta, go 1-2 against Milwaukee, and 1-2 against Seattle.

August Record: 16-10.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Series that they have to win: The Pirates don't have any easy series left in August.

Series where they can help themselves: San Diego, Cincinnati, and Chicago. We already said that they would lose two to San Diego and two to the Cubs. Let's say they split with Cincinnati.

Tough series: Seattle, Texas, and Cleveland. Let's say they lost two of three in these matchups.

August Record: 8-18.

Cincinatti Reds

Series that they have to win: Oakland and Toronto. Let's assume that they take two of three for these games.

Series where they can help themselves: St. Louis and Pittsburgh. We said St. Louis would take two of three from the Reds and they would split the four-game series with Pittsburgh.

Tough series: Kansas City (.547) and Milwaukee. Let's say that they lose two against Kansas City and split with Milwaukee.

August Record :14-14

Atlanta Braves

Series that they have to win: Los Angeles Angels and Washington. We'll assume they take two of three from the Angles and Nationals.

Series where they can help themselves: San Francisco. We'll assume a four-game split with the Giants.

Tough Series: Philadelphia (twice) and Minnesota. We'll assume they go 1-2 in these games.

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