PITTSBURGH — Though MLB’s 2012 addition of a second Wild Card in each league provides teams with more routes to the postseason than ever before, the system remains inherently unfair. Because of the sport’s imbalanced schedule, clubs in strong divisions are essentially punished twice: Not only do they face longer odds to win the pennant, but they must compete for Wild Card spots against teams with more opportunities to feast on inferior opponents.
The Cubs beat the Pirates, 5-0, on Tuesday at PNC Park to improve to 58-47 on the 2015 season — the fourth-best record in the National League, but good for only third place in their own division behind the Pirates and the dynastic St.