The Chicago Cubs clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive year, while Pete Crow-Armstrong completed his 40/40 season.
The Cubs fell short to the Miami Marlins, winning one of three games at Wrigley Field. The Cubs played their last home game on Sept. 24, an emotional day for Ian Happ, the longest-tenured Cub, with uncertainty surrounding his future in Chicago heading into the offseason. Crow-Armstrong completed his MVP case by reaching the 40/40 mark (40 home runs, 40 stolen bases). He became the first Cub to complete the milestone and currently has 45 home runs and 41 stolen bases.
Game one witnessed a heartbreaking bullpen collapse. Chicago lost to Miami in the 12th inning and lost an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth. Their chance came in the 10th inning with the bases loaded and two outs, but Pedro Ramirez was robbed of a game winning single. Caleb Theilbar took the loss while the Cubs were without superstar Alex Bregman, who is recovering after being struck by a foul ball. Michael Busch reached on a fielder's choice, allowing PCA to score, and Happ had an RBI single for Chicago's two runs. Shota Imanaga pitched well, going five innings while allowing one run and striking out seven. Thielbar and Cabrera combined to allow six runs as the Cubs fell in extra innings.
Game two was another tight game ending in a Chicago loss. The Cubs had been chasing either a win or a Diamondbacks loss over the first two games to clinch a playoff berth but were unable to get either. Dansby Swanson drove in both of Chicago’s runs. Kevin Gausman struck out seven while allowing two runs, six hits and one walk. The Marlins won this game 3-2. Ryan Rollins took the loss after allowing Joe Mack’s game-winning RBI.
Game three was a 2-1 victory for the Cubs and the perfect regular-season ending at Wrigley Field. Seiya Suzuki homered, ensuring the Cubs will be playing in October. The Cubs are making consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since 2017-2018, and both Chicago teams are in the postseason for the first time in six years. Crow-Armstrong became the seventh player in MLB history to join the 40/40 club and the third since 2006. Matthew Boyd delivered a strong performance for Chicago, pitching seven innings and allowing one run. Daniel Palencia and Ryan Zeferjahn each pitched one scoreless inning without allowing a hit.
The Cubs are currently battling the Padres and Phillies for playoff positioning, sitting at 88-71. San Diego is 89-70, while Philadelphia is 87-72. Chicago has one more series left, at Fenway Park vs. the Red Sox, and Bregman is set to be back in the lineup. The Phillies and Padres have three games remaining. If the Cubs finish in first place, they will play the second-place wild-card team at home. If Chicago drops to third, it will face the National League division winner without a bye.
Three more games remain until October for Cubs fans. Bryant, Rizzo and Báez made Cubs history exactly ten years ago. Now, Crow-Armstrong, Bregman and Suzuki have a chance to write the 2026 Cubs into the history books and it starts in one week.
