Cubs not looking beyond September yet

ST. LOUIS — The Cubs may be close to clinching the National League Central for the first time since 2008, and could do so against their biggest rivals, the Cardinals, but getting that postseason berth is all that’s on the players’ minds, not where they do it or who will be on the playoff roster.

“It doesn’t [matter where],” manager Joe Maddon said on Monday. “Honestly, it doesn’t. It just matters that we do. You’d always rather have it happen sooner rather than later just to make plans. I have no preference. Just to do it would be my preference.”

The Cubs began play on Monday with a 16-game lead in the division and a chance to clinch on Wednesday if they sweep the Cardinals in the three-game series. But St. Louis is still alive in the NL Wild Card race and is also one of three teams with a winning record against Chicago this season.

“Bully for them,” Maddon said.

General manager Jed Hoyer said there have been no discussions regarding the potential playoff roster, partly because the Cubs need to know who they’ll face.

“We haven’t made any decisions, nor do I think we’ll make any all that soon,” Hoyer said on Monday. “We have some time to make those decisions, and some of the movements we’ve made with the rotation the last few days …

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