'We've got 9 left': Cubs on outside looking in after latest loss

CHICAGO -- The Cubs have nine games left to breathe life back into their October aspirations. That is the reality that the North Siders are facing following another gut-punch of a loss at Wrigley Field.

Two weeks ago, Chicago was still thinking about overtaking the Brewers for first place in the National League Central. It did not seem like an unrealistic scenario, either. In the wake of Thursday’s 8-6 loss to the Pirates -- the 10th defeat in 13 games for the Cubs -- the ballclub is now on the outside looking in just for the NL Wild Card race.

• Games remaining (9): vs. COL (3), at ATL (3), at MIL (3)
• Standings update: The Cubs (79-74) sit eight games back of the first-place Brewers (87-66) in the National League Central. In the NL Wild Card race, Chicago is currently out of the October picture. The Cubs are tied with the Marlins with a 79-74 record, but Miami owns the tiebreaker over the North Siders for the third NL Wild Card slot. The Phillies are the top Wild Card seed with a five-game lead over the Cubs, while the D-backs sit in the second spot (two games up on Chicago). The Phillies and D-backs also own tiebreakers over the Cubs, as do the Reds, who are a half-game behind the third Wild Card spot.

“It is a sense of urgency,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “We've got to throw up wins. That's how we're going to get to the postseason. We've got to win baseball games. This is a big boy league. There's big boys in there.

"They've been up against adversity all season long and have answered the bell. That group's not going to shy away from a challenge.”

Multiple facets went sideways on the Cubs in their latest loss, which marked their fourth consecutive series defeat.

Chicago’s offense went dark for the first six innings against Pirates righty Johan Oviedo, going 0-for-10 with runners on base during that stretch. Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson -- MLB’s leader in Outs Above Average (19), per Statcast -- made a critical fielding error in the third that opened the door for a two-run rally by Pittsburgh.

“The first five or six innings just weren't very acceptable for myself,” said Swanson, who also struck out with the bases loaded to end the third. “Obviously, it's something I take accountability for.”

As for the crucial error made behind him, Cubs veteran Kyle Hendricks said it was his responsibility to escape the jam unscathed. Instead, the righty went on to allow a two-run double to Miguel Andujar to get the Pirates’ initial push going.

“I’ve got to pick [Swanson] up there,” said Hendricks, who turned in a six-inning quality start. “He’s done so much for me every time I’m out there, so much for this team. He makes every single play. The big hits he’s been getting. I’ve just got to be a better teammate there and pick him up -- bottom line.”

When the offense finally did spark to life -- Swanson used a single and homer to drive in three of the six runs plated across the final three frames -- the Cubs’ bullpen faltered. The Pirates struck for two in the eighth off Brad Boxberger and saw Joshua Palacios launch a pinch-hit three-run blast off Julian Merryweather in the ninth to break the game open.

“When we hit, we didn't pitch,” Ross said. “Some calls didn't go our way. We're not going to win when we don't play clean baseball. We've got to pitch better. … Mistakes in the field. Guys that don't make mistakes made mistakes.

“It's just where we're at right now. … We've just got to turn it around. It's on me. It's on the guys in that room.”

Making the postseason felt inevitable for the Cubs back on Sept. 6, following a sweep of the Giants that had Chicago firmly in the second NL Wild Card spot and only 1 1/2 games behind the Brewers for the top of the NL Central. That was due to a 50-28 run after falling 10 games under .500 on June 8 (26-36).

The recent 13-game spiral has put enormous pressure on the remaining games against the Rockies, Braves and Brewers. In this upcoming stretch, the Cubs will help define how the 2023 team is remembered by fans who have craved playoff baseball again on the North Side.

Prior to the series against the Pirates, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer was asked if this would be deemed a successful season even without a playoff berth.

“I feel like that’s a question for the end of the season -- hopefully, that’s late,” Hoyer said. “I’m not ready to have any kind of perspective. I just want to win four series in a row.”

That goal has now been reduced to three.

“We've got nine left,” Ross said. “Thank goodness.”