With the Chicago Cubs on the verge of clinching a playoff spot for the first time in five years, the team’s postseason ticket lottery is now open.
Beginning Monday, Cubs fans interested in buying playoff tickets for games at Wrigley Field can sign up for the “Fly the W” postseason ticket lottery, with randomly selected fans getting the chance to buy those seats.
The drawing will take place later this month, as the Cubs have 13 games remaining in the regular season.
All fans who sign up for the drawing could be chosen for an opportunity to purchase a limited number of tickets to a single postseason game at Wrigley Field, according to the Cubs. If fans are not chosen for the wild card round, they will still be eligible for selection in later rounds if the team advances in the playoffs.
If selected via the random drawing to buy seats, fans will be notified via email. Being selected is not a guarantee of being able to purchase tickets, according to the Cubs.
Registration is open to U.S. residents age 18 and older who have MLB.com accounts.
As things stand, the Cubs own the top wild card spot in the National League playoffs, which would mean they would host a best-of-three wild card round series at Wrigley Field beginning on Tuesday, September 30. Games would also be played on October 1 and October 2, if necessary, with the National League Division Series then getting underway on Saturday, October 4.
The Cubs have not made the playoffs since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, when they won the National League Central and were dispatched from the playoffs by the Miami Marlins in two games at Wrigley Field.
If the season ended today, the Cubs would host the San Diego Padres in that wild card series beginning on September 30, with the New York Mets taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the other wild card round series.
The winner of the Cubs-Padres series would then face the National League team with the best record during the regular season, with that mark currently belonging to the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cubs’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot in the National League stands at just four entering action on Monday, when they will face the Pittsburgh Pirates in the start of a three-game series at PNC Park.
The Cubs currently have a 3.5-game lead over the Padres for the top wild card spot with 13 games remaining in the regular season, and their magic number to clinch a home playoff series stands at 10.
As things stand, the Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies have each clinched playoff spots, with the Phillies just one win away from wrapping up the National League East title. The Phillies are two games behind the Brewers in the race for the best record in baseball, which would ensure them home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
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