Opinion

The Chicago Cubs lost on Thursday, but they still became the first team to clinch a postseason berth when the San Francisco Giants defeated the St. Louis Cardinals.

Now, nothing can go wrong. They're the Cubs, after all.

Much like convenience-store lackey Dante Hicks in Kevin Smith's seminal 1994 film Clerks, the New York Yankees weren't even supposed to be here.

They sold their veteran assets at the August 1 trade deadline and fixed their gaze on the future. They surrendered.

Forget shoulders—the Toronto Blue Jays' season rests squarely on Josh Donaldson's right hip.

Remember when touted young Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton was the butt of smarmy "Buston" jokes?

Yeah. About that.

A New York Mets starting rotation that was supposed to be the mightiest force on this or any other planet has become battered, broken and badly in need of a hero.

Enter Thor.

We're midway through the final month of the 2016 MLB season and by all accounts, there are still five postseason spots up for grabs.

On the National League side, the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals look like locks to win the Central and East Divisions, respectively, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are leading the NL West by four games, are a safe bet to reach the postseason in some capacity.

That leaves the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals fighting for the two remaining spots.

The Boston Red Sox gave David Price ace money over the winter.

Now, finally, after months of wobbling and hand-wringing, he's giving them ace results.

Kyle Hendricks didn't make history Monday night at Busch Stadium. But he did make his National League Cy Young Award case loud and clear.

Hendricks came within three outs of becoming just the second Chicago Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter against the hated-rival St. Louis Cardinals. He carried a no-no through eight innings before Jeremy Hazelbaker ended it with a solo home run to lead off the ninth.

Depending on when you first heard of Alex Reyes, it might come as a surprise that the 22-year-old pitcher is in a playoff race with the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Officially, the San Francisco Giants' mascot is Lou Seal—a beer-bellied, semi-aquatic marine mammal in an oversized T-shirt.

In reality, the team's mascot, spark plug and beating heart is Hunter Andrew Pence.