NL Central
Chicago Cubs
81-66
99%
Playoff ChancesChance of Playoffs
Earliest possible clinch
If every result goes the Cubs' way.
Starting…
Playoffs
Waiting…
NL Central
Waiting…
1st-round bye
Waiting…
No. 1 seed
Waiting…
Answers follow the results as they come in.
How can today's Magic numbers change?
There are 9 games today that could impact the Cubs' magic numbers.
The Cubs' magic number for each spot after today's games.
Playoffs
Now: magic number 11.
Magic number falls to 9 with…
- Cubs win and Diamondbacks loss or
- Cubs win and Padres loss
Magic number falls to 10 or better with…
- Diamondbacks loss or
- Cubs win or
- Padres loss
NL Central
Now: no magic number yet.
No magic number (needs help) with…
whatever else happens today.
First-round bye
Now: no magic number yet.
No magic number (needs help) with…
whatever else happens today.
No. 1 seed
Now: no magic number yet.
No magic number (needs help) with…
whatever else happens today.
Precomputed for today: all 512 combinations, run by the site at Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 9:50 PM CDT in 62s.
Playoff odds
A Monte Carlo run of every remaining game and the postseason after it, twice over.
| Chance of | Magic # | StrengthStrength of sched.Pythagorean | Coin flipCoin flipevery game 50/50 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make the playoffs | 11 | 99% | 96% |
| Win the division | — | <0.1% | <0.1% |
| Wild card berth | — | 99% | 96% |
| First-round bye (top 2) | — | <0.1% | <0.1% |
| No. 1 seed | — | <0.1% | <0.1% |
| Postseason | |||
| Reach the Division Series | — | 57% | 47% |
| Reach the League Championship Series | — | 24% | 24% |
| Reach the World Series | — | 12% | 12% |
| Win the World Series | — | 6% | 6% |
| Final seed | |||
| #1 seed | — | <0.1% | <0.1% |
| #2 seed | — | <0.1% | <0.1% |
| #3 seed | — | <0.1% | <0.1% |
| #4 seed | — | 58% | 41% |
| #5 seed | — | 33% | 42% |
| #6 seed | — | 7% | 13% |
| Miss the playoffs | — | 1% | 4% |
Magic # is exact and schedule-aware — the wins (or closest-rival losses) that guarantee the spot, tiebreakers included. The same numbers sit on the Division Standings page.
Strength of schedule plays out each remaining game weighted by both clubs' scoring and the schedule they have faced; coin flip gives every game an even chance. Each run then plays the bracket its own season set up — series lengths, home games and byes included. Percentages are simulated, never a clinch.