Records through Sunday, August 30, 2026. Updated daily.
Milwaukee has the best record in baseball at 85-52 and an eight-game cushion in the NL Central. The Cubs at 77-60 aren’t catching them without help, but they don’t especially need to — Chicago is level with Philadelphia atop the National League wild card standings.
Below those two, the division falls off a cliff. St. Louis in third is 17.5 games back.
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Games left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers | 85 | 52 | .620 | — | 25 |
| Chicago Cubs | 77 | 60 | .562 | 8 | 25 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 68 | 70 | .493 | 17.5 | 24 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 67 | 71 | .486 | 18.5 | 24 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 65 | 72 | .474 | 20 | 25 |
Milwaukee Is Playing for the Top Seed
The Brewers’ magic number is 18, and at 85-52 they hold the best record in either league. That’s worth more than a division banner under the current format: the No. 1 seed in each league gets a bye through the wild card round, the single biggest structural advantage in the postseason.
Their competition for the top seed is Atlanta and the Dodgers, both 82-55 — three games back with a month to play.
The Cubs Have Already Banked Their Spot
| NL wild card | Team | Record | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| WC1 | Cubs | 77-60 | — |
| WC2 | Phillies | 77-60 | — |
| WC3 | Diamondbacks | 73-65 | — |
| First out | Padres | 72-65 | 0.5 |
| In the hunt | Cardinals | 68-70 | 5 |
Chicago is four and a half games clear of the third wild card, which is comfortable but not decided.
St. Louis Is the Division’s Long Shot
The Cardinals at 68-70 are 17.5 back in the division and five out of the final wild card with 24 to play. That second number is the one that keeps them relevant, though they’d need to pass Arizona, San Diego and Miami to get there.
Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are further out at 18.5 and 20 games back. What all three can still do is decide the top of the division: Milwaukee and Chicago both have significant remaining schedule inside the Central. For the full league picture see our MLB standings page.
The Bottom Line
Milwaukee at 85-52 owns baseball’s best record with a magic number of 18 and is chasing the No. 1 seed and its bye, not just the division. Chicago at 77-60 shares the top NL wild card with Philadelphia and is four and a half clear of the cut line. St. Louis is the only other team with a live argument, five out of the last spot.