Make way for the Chicago Cubs!

The Cubs are making every effort to play their way into the Major League Baseball postseason.

At the start of play August 15, the Cubs have a record of 61-57. They are tied with the Cincinnati Reds for second place in the competitive National League Central Division. The Milwaukee Brewers have the lead.

In their next four series, the Cubs will play two home games with their cross-town rival Chicago White Sox, and after a day off, they will take on the Kansas City Royals at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs then go on the road to play three against the Detroit Tigers and four in Pittsburgh, against the Pirates.

If the Cubs can hold their own in those next four series, they will be ready to take on their biggest rival. The Brewers will come to Wrigley Field to end the month of August.

One can only imagine the tension that series with the Brewers will bring.

But that one series won’t decide the season. The Cubs will play the Reds at Cincinnati three times to start September.

How do the Cubs finish the season? They play three games in Milwaukee. And those games will come after the Cubs play two games in Atlanta. The Braves may well be the best team in baseball.

The Cubs payroll is estimated to be $189 million, or $42 million more than last season.

At the August 1 trade deadline, speculation was rampant that the Cubs would trade right-handed starter Marcus Stroman. Stroman, 32, holds an opt-out clause in his contract for next season. If Stroman decides to stay with the Cubs, he will be paid $21 million, or $4 million less than his current contract.

Perhaps the Cubs will choose to extend Stroman, providing a salary increase instead of a cut.

Stroman has been disabled with hip inflammation. He is scheduled to return to the mound August 16.

Also at the trade deadline, the Cubs chose to retain outfielder Cody Bellinger, 28, who holds a 2024 mutual contract option with the team. The option is valued at $25 million, or double his current contract.

Bellinger, now healthy, has had an outstanding season. He is among the primary reasons the Cubs are relevant.

The left-handed hitting Bellinger is hitting a robust .328/.379/.556/935 with 18 homers and 59 RBIs in 367 plate appearances. He has stolen 17 bases in 20 attempts.

The Cubs did trade with the Washington Nationals for switch-hitting corner infielder, Jeimer Candelario, 29, who can become a free agent following the season.

Candelario has had a great start to his days with the Cubs. He is getting timely hits, accepting walks, and contributing to the winning culture that is currently carrying the club.

In his 45 plate appearances with the Cubs, Candelario is hitting .425.

The Cubs are making progress in their division without superstar players.

In addition to Bellinger and Candelario, the Cubs are making their mark with a collection of dedicated, hard working “grinders.” Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, Christopher Morel, Yan Gomes, and Seiya Suzuki combine to contribute to a team effort that is the sum of its parts.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson, 29, acquired as a free agent last offseason, may have the highest profile on the team. Combined with Bellinger, the duo form a good combination in the middle of a scrappy Cubs lineup.

Cubs hitters have a batting average of .255, which is above the average league MLB batting average of .248.

The Cubs have hit 143 home runs, which is 84 below MLB leading Atlanta’s 227.

In a category that is probably the most important, the Cubs have scored 597 runs, which places them 5th in baseball.

The Cubs team ERA is 4.19, which puts them in the middle in MLB. The opposition is hitting .245 against them.

Stroman will return to a rotation that includes left-hander Justin Steele, and righties Jameson Taillon, Kyle Hendricks, and Javier Assad.

If there is any issue where inconsistency can hurt the Cubs, it may well be pitching.

The bullpen is led by capable right-hander closer, Adbert Aizolay, who is 28-years-old.

The team’s bullpen is near the upper-half of MLB clubs, with a 3.98 Earned Run Average. Their 1.29 WHIP ranks 16th in baseball.

Recent Cubs success has given the team the confidence required to contend in the NL Central.

Why not the Cubs? Good question. Why not, indeed. They have dedicated players capable of scoring runs on offense, and keeping their team in games with average pitching.

The Cubs roster of good, major league quality players has seen their momentum build in a tough division.

Now the Cubs have to keep the line moving. They have to continue to play solid, smart, and winning baseball to solidify their chances of claiming a spot in the MLB playoffs.