Al Yellon has published several posts recently about the new scheduling format for 2023, in which the number of games between each team and the 4 others in its division will be sharply reduced, to 13, instead of 19.

That means each team will play fewer than one third of its games, 52 of 162, against its division rivals.

I went through the Cubs' schedule to see when those division games would be played.

March-April

28 games, 6 in division (3 home, 3 road), 22 out

May

28 games, 6 in division (6 home, 0 road), 22 out

June

25 games: 8 in division (3 home, 5 road including 2 in London), 17 out

July

26 games: 13 in division (5 home, 8 road), 13 out

August

27 games: 10 in division (6 home, 4 road), 17 out

September-October

28 games: 9 in division (3 home, 6 road), 19 out

Through the end of June, the Cubs will play just 20 games within their division and 61 out of it.

...

The first 6 of those 20 games will come in their first 2 series of the season: March 30 and April 1-2 at home vs. the Brewers, then April 3-5 at Cincinnati.

Then the Cubs will play only 6 of their next 60 in the division.

..........

LONG STRETCHES VS. OUTSIDERS

They will play teams from other division in 29 straight games from April 7 through May 7: 3 at home vs. the Rangers, 3 vs. the Mariners, 3 at Los Angeles against the Dodgers, 3 at Oakland, 4 at home vs. the Dodgers, 3 at home vs. the Padres, 3 at Miami, 4 at Washington and 3 at home vs. the Marlins.

After hosting the Cardinals for 3 games, May 8-10, the Cubs will 12 more outside the division: 3 at Minnesota, 3 at Houston, 3 at Philadelphia and 3 at home vs. the Mets.

On May 26-28, the Cubs will play 3 at home vs. the Reds.

That will be followed by 13 in a row outside the division: 3 at home vs. the Rays, 4 at San Diego, 4 at Los Angeles against the Angels and 3 at San Francisco.

At that point, they will have played 12 in the division and 54 out.

..........

8 OF 10, 10 of 12 IN DIVISION

Between June 13 and 25, the Cubs will play 8 of 10 in the division: 3 at home vs. the Pirates, 3 at home vs. the Orioles, 3 at Pittsburgh and the 2 against the Cardinals in London.

But then comes 15 of 18 outside the division: 3 each at home vs. the Phillies and Guardians, 3 at Milwaukee, 3 at New York against the Yankees and 3 each at home vs. the Red Sox and Nationals.

...

On July 20-22, the Cubs will host the Cardinals. After 2 games against the White Sox on the South Side, they will play 3 at St. Louis, then 4 at home vs. the Reds.

The latter 2 series, spanning July 27-Aug. 3, will be the first time since March 30-April 5 that the Cubs will play division rivals consecutively in North America.

..........

17 OUT, 10 IN, 13 OUT

Those series will be followed by 17 in a row outside the division: 3 at home vs. the Braves, 3 at New York against the Mets, 3 at Toronto, 2 at home vs. the White Sox, 3 at home vs. the Royals and 3 at Detroit.

Aug. 24 through Sept. 3 will be the only time all season that the Cubs play 3 consecutive series against teams in their division: 4 at Pittsburgh, 3 at home vs. the Brewers and 3 at Cincinnati.

Their next 13 games will be against outsiders: 3 at home vs. the Giants, 4 at home vs. the Diamondbacks, 3 at Colorado and 3 at Arizona.

..........

BALANCE AT END

In the final 2 weeks of the season, the Cubs will host the Pirates and Rockies for 3 games each, then wrap up the schedule with 3 at Atlanta and 3 at Milwaukee.

So, another way of breaking it down:

March 30-April 5: 6 in division, 0 out

April 7-Sept. 17: 40 in division, 104 out

Sept. 19-Oct. 1: 6 in division, 6 out