Cubs 1, Brewers 0
MILWAUKEE -- Kyle Hendricks struck out eight and the Chicago Cubs kept their hopes of hosting the National League wild card game alive with a 1-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night at Miller Park.
Chicago (96-65) is one game behind Pittsburgh in the wild-card race after the Pirates lost 3-1 to the Cincinnati Reds.
A Cubs victory on Sunday in the season finale, paired with a loss by the Pirates, would leave both teams 97-65. Chicago would secure the top wild card spot by virtue of a tiebreaker and would play host to the game on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.
Hendricks (8-7) was perfect through 5 1/3 innings. Milwaukee got its first baserunner with one out in the sixth when catcher Martin Maldonado singled up the middle, but Hendricks retired the next two in order to get out of the inning.
Milwaukee right-hander Tyler Wagner (0-2) made his third career start and allowed seven hits and two walks in six innings but held Chicago to one run while striking out three.
The Cubs had several chances early against Wagner but managed one run in the second when left fielder Chris Coghlan tripled and scored on a base hit by shortstop Addison Russell.
The Cubs stranded 12 runners in the game and went just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Milwaukee's only chance of the night came in the eight when it put runners at the corners with one out against right-hander Fernando Rodney, but Maldonado chopped into a double play, preserving the shutout.
NOTES: Cubs starters have combined for a 0.23 ERA (one earned run in 39 1/3 innings) in the last six games. ... Brewers LF Khris Davis has hit 21 of his team-leading 27 home runs since the All-Star break, the second most in the National League during that stretch. Davis' 48 RBIs since the break are fifth best in the league. ... Chicago was won 10 of the last 11 meetings with the Brewers and leads the season series 12-5. ... The regular season concludes Sunday with Brewers RHP Jorge Lopez (1-0, 5.40 ERA) facing Cubs RHP Dan Haren (10-9, 3.67).