NL Central Tracker: The Brewers are the best Cardinals, shoot in the 1 1/2 games of Cubs

The Cubs kicked off their season of seven year-end games with a dud Monday, falling to the Pirates 5-1.

And the Brewers played 1 ½ first-place game in the National League with a 6-4 victory over the Cardinals in St. Louis. Their magic number to clinch a playoff spot for the fourth season in a row was two.

The Rockies managed to equalize with the Cards for second place a la carte with a 10-1 against the Phillies. The Brewers hold first place, three games in front of the Rockies and Cardinals.

A look at the division race:

1. Cubs

Record: 91-65.

Magic number: 5 (division), 2 (wild).

Probability of playoffs (Fangraphs.com, odds will be updated once all games are over)): 100% overall, 92% to win the division.

Monday: Lost to first 5-1 results at Wrigley Field.

Remaining games: 6 (6 at home).

Versus NL Central contenders: 3 against the cardinals (3 at home).

Versus 500 teams and more: 6.

Tuesday: vs. Pirates, 19:05, WGN-9.

RH Chris Archer (5-8, 4.49) against LH Mike Montgomery (5-5, 3.75).

Calendar remaining

Wednesday vs. Pirates, 19:05, NBCSCH.

Thursday against the pirates, 19:05, NBCSCH.

Friday against the Cardinals, 1:20 pm, ABC-7.

Saturday against the Cardinals, 12:05 pm, FOX-32.

Sunday against the Cardinals, 2:20 pm, NBCSCH.

2. Brewers

Record: 90-67, 1½ behind.

Probability of the playoffs: 99 percent in total, 7.1 percent to win the division, 91.8 percent to win the joker.

Monday: Beat the Cardinals 6-4 in St. Louis.

Remaining games: 5 (3 houses, 2 roads).

Versus NL Central contenders: 2 vs Cardinals (2 routes).

Versus 500 teams and more: 2.

Tuesday: to the cardinals at 7:15 pm

Calendar remaining

Wednesday to the Cardinals, 6:15 pm

Friday against the tigers, 7:10 pm

Saturday against the tigers, 6:10 pm

Sunday against the tigers, 14h10

3. cardinals

Record: 87-70, 4½ games behind.

Probability of the playoffs: 79.5% in total, 0.9% to win the division, 78.6% to win the joker.

Monday: Lost for brewers 6-4 in St. Louis.

Remaining games: 5 (2 houses, 3 roads).

Versus NL Central contenders: 2 against Brewers (2 at home), 3 against Cubs (3 on road).

Versus 500 teams and more: 5.

Tuesday: against Brewers, 7:15 pm

Calendar remaining

Tuesday against the brewers, 7:15 pm

Wednesday vs. Brewers, 6:15 pm

Friday at Cubs, 13:20

Saturday at the Cubs, 12:05

Sunday at Cubs, 2:20 pm