CHICAGO -- All right, the party has to wait at least a day. Or maybe it’ll start up late on Friday night as the Cubs can back into the playoffs before taking the field again despite losing 3-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday afternoon.

If the San Francisco Giants lose to the Oakland Athletics in a game that starts at 9:05 pm CT, then the Cubs are back in the postseason for the first time since 2008. Surely the team will be watching every pitch of that game.

“Yeah, no chance,” pitcher Jon Lester said. “We’ll show up tomorrow and hopefully celebrate tomorrow and have a good time.”

OK, but manager Joe Maddon will find out before tomorrow -- though it might be after he goes to bed.

“Probably when I have to go to the bathroom,” Maddon joked.

He suspected some players would stay up, but the Cubs will celebrate on Saturday one way or another -- if they get in.

“I’d rather wait until tomorrow,” catcher David Ross said. “These old bones don’t get up too early after a late night of drinks.”

Maddon had a thought about how to celebrate on Friday if the Giants lose while still getting proper rest for a 12 pm CT first pitch on Saturday.

“Like via text,” he said.