Hold the confetti. Keep the champagne bottles corked. Unplug the smoke machine.
For a few hours, at least.
The Cubs could have clinched a playoff berth with a victory Friday, but instead came away with a 3-2 loss to the Pirates in front of 40,432 fans at Wrigley Field.
The defeat forced the Cubs to wait and watch the scoreboard to see the outcome of the Giants-A's game late Friday night in Oakland. With the Cubs' magic number at one, a Giants loss would put the North Siders into the playoffs.
The Cubs couldn't do much against Gerrit Cole - whom Pittsburgh will likely throw in the wild-card game - as they managed just four hits and a run off the Pirates ace.
[MORE CUBS: Gerrit Cole getting stronger as wild card game vs. Cubs looms]
Joe Maddon doesn't believe the young Cubs are putting any undue pressure on themselves right now.
MLB
"I don't sense anything negative from our group," Maddon said. "Our group's fabulous. They come to play every day. It was a well-played baseball game.
"If you're a Cubs fan - or just a baseball fan in general - you have to have loved what you saw out there today."
The Cubs rallied in the ninth when pinch-hitter Chris Denorfia doubled to lead off the inning against Pirates closer Mark Melancon and came around to score on Starlin Castro's triple. But Jorge Soler and Javy Baez struck out to end the game, stranding the tying run just 90 feet away.
Jon Lester started for the Cubs and allowed just two runs on five hits in seven innings, but was still saddled with the tough-luck loss.
Cole knocked in the first run of the game in the third inning when he drove Lester's pitch past Russell and into center field to plate Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer.
[SHOP: Gear up, Cubs fans!]
The Pirates tacked on in the seventh on a Michael Morse single and then scored again in the eighth when Mercer reached on a dropped third strike and came around to score on Starling Marte's groundout.
The Cubs are now 4.5 games behind the Pirates in the bid to host the one-game wild-card playoff.
With a Noon game Saturday, will the Cubs be staying up late to watch the Giants, who kick off their game at 9 p.m.?
"[I'll check the score] probably when I have to go to the bathroom at night," Maddon joked.
Lester said there was "no chance" he'd stay up to watch the late game. Catcher David Ross admitted he won't be up late celebrating because "these old bones don't get up too early after a late night of drinks."
If the Cubs do clinch a playoff berth overnight, rest assured - there will be a celebration at some point.
"We're not a team that misses out on celebration," Chris Coghlan said.
"We'll show up tomorrow and hopefully celebrate tomorrow," Lester said. "We'll have a good time and let these guys that have never experienced this really enjoy it. Hopefully they don't hold anything back.
"I know we got another week or so to go. A lot of things can happen, but not too many guys get the opportunity to play in the postseason, so I hope guys really soak it in.
"I've played with a few guys through the years - Adam Dunn, in particular - who waited 15 years to get to a one-game playoff. Hopefully these guys make sure they enjoy it when we do get it."