Quantifying Hope: Cubs Enter Weekend Boasting 72% Postseason Odds

AP Photo/Gene J. PuskarThe Cubs aren’t entirely out of the woods in terms of their tough early schedule, especially with the Giants looming after this NL Central road trip, but their division rivals are down this season. That means they need to keep stepping on throats and banking as many wins as possible here in May. One aspect of a very tough April is that the Cubs had six days off. They only have four scheduled breaks this month and two in June, so staying on the gas now can allow them to cruise as needed later in the season.

This is Chicago’s division to lose, as evidenced by their 71.8% playoff odds heading into Friday’s game in Milwaukee. As you can see in the graph below, the trends…