(670 The Score) Entering the final week of this regular season, the Cubs are in a fight for their playoff lives.
The Cubs (82-74) are one game ahead of the Marlins for the final National League wild-card spot as they finish out their final six games against the division-leading Braves and Brewers in road games. That imposing stretch begins Tuesday evening at Truist Park in Atlanta.
“No matter what, these are two really good teams,” Cubs left fielder Ian Happ told the Bernstein & Holmes Show on Tuesday. “We’ve played them this season. They’re great groups. Obviously, what Atlanta has been able to do has been super impressive. Milwaukee continues to be a really good ballclub that does everything well. We know that to make the playoffs, we’re going to have to go through these guys. So, these types of games, they’re super fun atmospheres.
“I don’t expect anything different from this week.”
The Cubs are tied with the Diamondbacks (82-74) in the standings, though Arizona owns the head-to-head tiebreaker and thus holds the second NL wild-card spot entering play Tuesday. The Cubs would need to finish one game better than the Diamondbacks to earn the better seed than them.
The Marlins (81-75) also own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Cubs, adding to the importance of the final six games.
The Cubs took two out of three games from the Braves during an August series at Wrigley Field. They've split 10 games with the Brewers this season.
Cubs left-hander Justin Steele opposes Braves right-hander Bryce Elder in the series opener Tuesday in Atlanta. The game will be broadcast on 670 The Score, with first pitch at 6:20 p.m. CT. Pregame coverage starts at 5:45 p.m.