The NL Wild Card race will be a determining factor in how easy the road will be for the Chicago. All three teams currently in the hunt for the final two spots have played the Cubs well this year.
Chicago has a winning record against the San Francisco Giants (81-73) and St. Louis Cardinals (80-73), but struggled mightily against the New York Mets (82-72). In their last 11 games, the Cubs are 2-9 against the Mets. This includes losing seven in a row after the 2015 NLCS.
Both the Giants and Cardinals are 17-16 this year against NL East teams.