Carmen Mandato/Getty
CINCINNATI — The week or so the Cubs spent in last place in the National League Central to begin the season — because of a quirk of the schedule after they went 0-2 in the Tokyo Series — are a distant memory.
On Friday, the Cubs entered a three-game series against the Reds with a three-game cushion atop the division. They had spent 48 days in first place.
The Cardinals made a recent push, including a nine-game winning streak this month, to move into second place.