Cubs do not face division leader again this season

The Cubs head into an eight game home stand on Wednesday night just 2 ½ games out of first place behind the Nashville Sounds in the PCL Northern Division. With a four game series against the Tacoma Rainiers and another four-game set with the Portland Beavers, Iowa will look to make up ground as they are 10-5 in their last 15 home games.

With 34 games left in the regular season, the Cubs will play at home for 17 of them, but will not be in control of their own destiny since they do not meet again with first place Nashville.

The biggest variable that could benefit Iowa is the quality of their remaining opponents. Of the eight series that remain on their schedule, the Cubs play just three of those series against a team with a winning record (Tacoma, Round Rock and New Orleans). Nashville's opponents stack up the same way, but they must play 21 of their remaining 33 games on the road.