Fresh off a 6-1 homestand, the first-place Cubs face a daunting trip: 11 games over the next 11 days — in the midst of a 23-games-in-23-days stretch — in four cities, and all of their opponents are .500 or better.
While the Cubs look like a lock to make a fourth consecutive postseason appearance for the first time in franchise history — Fangraphs.com computes their playoff probability at 99.5 percent through Wednesday’s games — the rejuvenated, hard-charging Cardinals remain within striking distance in the NL Central.
Here’s a closer look at the trip:
At Braves
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74-58 | First in NL East
Thursday: 6:35 p.m., WGN-9.
LH Mike Montgomery (4-4, 3.62) vs. RH Mike Foltynewicz (10-8, 2.67).
In a makeup game from a May rainout, Montgomery — fresh off the disabled list — makes his first start since Aug. 7. He faces Foltynewicz, a Minooka High School graduate who has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last five starts.
At Phillies
71-62 | Second in NL East, 3½ games back | 2½ back in wild card
Friday: 6:05 p.m., NBCSCH Plus.
Saturday: 6:05 p.m., NBCSCH.
Sunday: 12:35 p.m., WGN-9.
The Cubs will miss former teammate Jake Arrieta, who pitched Wednesday. But the Phillies, 42-24 at Citizens Bank Park and fighting to stay in playoff contention, adjusted their rotation and will start ace Aaron Nola (15-3, 2.10 ERA) on Sunday.
At Brewers
74-60 | Third in NL Central, 5 games back | Own second wild-card spot
Monday: 1:10 p.m., WGN-9.
Tuesday: 7:10 p.m., NBCSCH.
Wednesday: 7:10 p.m., WGN-9.
While their Central title hopes appear slim, the Brewers are in the thick of the wild-card race. The Cubs have won nine of 13 in the season series, but the Brewers have taken three of the last four — with all three victories coming via shutout.
At Nationals
67-67 | Third in NL East, 8 games back | 7 back in wild card
Sept. 6: 6:05 p.m., NBCSCH.
Sept. 7: 6:05 p.m., NBCSCH.
Sept. 8: 6:05 p.m., WGN-9.
Sept. 9: 12:35 p.m., TBS.
The Nationals likely will miss the playoffs for the first time in three years, but two potential marquee pitching matchups make this series juicy. Jon Lester is in line to face Stephen Strasburg in Game 2, and Cole Hamels — 4-0 with an 0.69 ERA in six August starts with the Cubs — could see Cy Young favorite Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.22 ERA, 249 strikeouts) in Game 3.
Home stretch
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After the trip, the Cubs play 16 of their remaining 19 games in Chicago — 13 at Wrigley Field and three at Guaranteed Rate Field against the White Sox. But keep in mind the final three games: Cardinals at Cubs, Sept. 28-30 at Wrigley.
Twitter @ChrisBoghossian