Cubs' Chances Of Making The Playoffs? 99 Percent

CHICAGO (CBS) -- It is still three weeks from the All-Star break, and the Chicago Cubs have a 99 percent chance of making the playoffs.

That's according to Five Thirty Eight's calculations, called the Elo rankings. Actually it's greater than 99 percent, if one would like to quibble with the numbers.

And the Cubs are overwhelming favorites to go into the playoffs as division champions, with a 97 percent probability.

Turning the clock back a bit and looking at predictions for this week, Five Thirty Eight gives the Cubs a pretty good shot at sweeping both the rival Cardinals and Marlins.

The Cubs are currently 12.5 games ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central.

Two other teams, the Giants and Nationals, currently have a better than 90 percent chance of making the postseason, according to Five Thirty Eight.