Chicago Cubs’ playoff hopes are in a precarious position after getting swept by Arizona Diamondbacks

Their worst stretch of play in months could not have come at a much worse time for the Chicago Cubs.

The veteran team needed to regroup on Monday’s day off after a dreadful 1-5 trip against the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks. Five consecutive losses culminated with Sunday’s 6-2 defeat as the Cubs were swept for the first time in almost three months and returned to Chicago for their final homestand desperately trying to regain their playoff position.

The Cubs (78-72) entered Monday tied with the Miami Marlins for the final National League wild-card spot, though the Marlins hold the tiebreaker.

“They were better than we were in all aspects of the game,” manager David Ross said of the Diamondbacks. “They played better defense, they pitched better, they had timely hitting, they ran the bases better. We got beat all the way around. A bad road trip. Try to wash it on the off day tomorrow.”

The Cubs wasted...