Monday was the Cubs last scheduled day off until Sept. 3 and while no one on Joe Maddon’s team threw a pitch or swung a bat, the Cubs gained ground in the NL Wild Card race.
The Cubs moved to within two games of the Pirates on Monday for home field advantage in the NL Wild Card game. Pittsburgh lost 4-1 to the D-Backs at PNC Park. And the Cubs lead over the Giants increased to four games when San Francisco lost 2-1 in St. Louis.
By taking two of three on the South Side, the Cubs will enter play Tuesday night having won 15 of 17 and with a 67-49 record, 18 games over .