PHILADELPHIA — The Cubs had a short flight to Pittsburgh after Sunday’s 7-4 loss to the Phillies, and a day off to prepare for their biggest series in years.

After checking into the hotel, manager Joe Maddon planned to host a team get-together to relax and watch “Sunday Night Football,” giving the players a chance to put work behind them before facing the Pirates, whom they could meet in the wild-card matchup.

“We’re just going to annihilate some wings in downtown Pittsburgh and watch some football,” Maddon said.

There is no reason for anyone to downplay the four-game series, and no one was claiming it was just business as usual.

The Cubs trail the Pirates for the first wild-card spot by four games after the Pirates beat the Brewers 7-6 in 11 innings. The Pirates are only 21/2 games behind the division-leading Cardinals.

Only three weeks remain in the regular season, and the Cubs are hoping to earn home-field advantage for the Oct. 7 wild-card game.

The Cubs will face Gerrit Cole on Tuesday in Game 1 of a doubleheader, while the Pirates will face Jake Arrieta on Wednesday. Cole and Arrieta are expected to face off if the teams meet in the wild-card game.

“The bottom line is all these dudes are studs,” outfielder Chris Coghlan said. “We’ve got studs. They’ve got studs. That’s the reason why we’ve won as many games as we have. It doesn’t matter. You toe the line. This guy is legit. Our guy is legit. It’s just a battle of attrition at that point.”