The first place Cubs and second place Cardinals square off for the first of a five-game set at Wrigley. With the Cardinals only 3.5 back and almost two thirds of the shortened season already on the books, this is as important a series as there could be for either team this year.

The Cubs escape Cincinnati with a 2-2 split and head to Pittsburgh to try to catch a cheap ride on the NL central's caboose. Things have not gone well for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who enter the series at 10-22.

Game 1, Tuesday, Sep. 1, 6:05 pm central
CHC: LHP Jon Lester (2-1, 4.55 ERA)
PIT: RHP Chad Kuhl (1-1, 2.52 ERA)

Game 2, Wednesday, Sep. 2, 6:05 pm central
CHC: Kyle Hendricks (3-4, 4.09 ERA)
PIT: Derek Holland (1-2, 7.62 ERA)

The Cubs have a 4-game set scheduled in Cincinnati, including a doubleheader on Saturday. As of my writing this, it is not entirely clear whether these games will be played. Multiple professional leagues are now on strike--in response to police violence and domestic terrorism and in solidarity with protesters. Players on multiple MLB teams chose note to play on Wednesday and Thursday. As we have never been able to forget this year, bigger and more important things are happening than professional sports. However, I have listed the projected match-ups below, should the series be played.

8/22 UPDATE

The Cubs have officially signed one more 2019-20 IFA 

Bryan Serra, 2B 
R/R, 5'10 173, Age 21 
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

He was assigned to DSL Cubs Red (formerly known as DSL Cubs #2) 

So the Cubs have signed 22 J-2 IFA so far in the 2019-20 ISP (see full list below). 

Having barely dodged a sweep at the hands of the 3rd-place White Sox, the Cubs now take-on the 4th-place Tigers in Detroit. Unlike the hot Sox, the Tigers are 2-8 in their last 10 games. This could be a chance for the Cubs to add to their lead before a stretch of 18 games against NL Central opponents Aug. 28-Sep. 13.

Despite falling off a blistering pace this last week, the Cubs fought to hold their ground. They can now proudly welcome their south side rivals with a superior 16-8 record to the White Sox's 15-11. Still, this Sox team is no collection of slouches. They have entered their competitive window, and the Cubs will now have to face some young stars entering their primes.

Coming off the equivalent of an 8.1-game losing streak (1-3 series) vs. the Brewers, the Cubs now welcome their St. Louis rivals for a 5-game series at Wrigley. Featuring two double headers and two "away" games played in their home stadium, it is likely to be an early contender for weirdest series of the year. The Cardinals begin the series an unlikely second place in the division, holding a .500 record but having played fewer than half the games the Cubs have played.