'26

Well, the Cubs made their NLDS against Milwaukee very exciting by coming back from an 0-2 deficit to tie the series at 2-2, but the Brewers silenced the Cubs' bats in Game 5, winning the game 3-1 and advancing to the NLCS.

 

While the North Siders' 92-win season was a pleasant surprise, the season-long roster issues that the front office failed to address caused frustration.

Enjoy the rest of the playoffs and look here for a more thorough season recap sometime after the World Series.

 

Thanks for following and go Cubs go!

 

 

1

Holy cow! Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win!

The Cubs beat the Brewers 6-0 on Thursday to tie the NLDS at two games apiece and drop their magic number to advance to the NLCS to 1!

The deciding Game 5 of the NLDS is on Saturday at Wrigley North.

GO CUBS GO!

2

Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win! The Cubs beat the Brewers 4-3 on Wednesday behind another leadoff homer from Michael Busch, a two-out, two-run single from Pete Crow-Armstrong, and five innings of one-run, six-strikeout ball from the bullpen.

With the victory, the Cubs Magic Number to advance to the NLCS is 2.

First pitch of Game 4 of the best-of-five series is at 8:08 p.m. CT Thursday at Wrigley.

GO CUBS GO!

Photo Credit:  Our Very Own Fally!

3

The Cubs Magic Number to advance to the NLCS is 3.

First pitch of Game 3 of their best-of-five NLDS is Wednesday at 4:08 p.m. CT at Wrigley. Jameson Taillon will take the mound for the Cubs while Quinn Priester will start for the Brewers.

 

Go, and I cannot stress this enough, CUBS!

 

 

3

Well, Saturday's NLDS Game 1 between the Cubs and Brewers didn't go the way that Cubs fans wanted it to, as they lost to the Brewers 9-3. Suffice it to say that starting Matt Boyd, who's thrown more innings in 2025 than in the past three seasons combined, on three days' rest, didn't work out.

The best-of-five series continues on Monday (all times Central):
 

    Game 2:  Monday, October 6 at Wrigley North, 8:08 p.m.
    Game 3:  Wednesday, October 8 at Wrigley Field, 4:08 p.m.
    Game 4:  Thursday, October 9 at Wrigley Field, 8:08 p.m.*
    Game 5:  Saturday, October 11 at Wrigley North, 3:38 p.m.*

*if needed 

 
The winner of this series will face the winner of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Phillies.
 
GO CUBS GO! 

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

3

The Cubs head to Milwaukee on Saturday to kick off their National League Division Series against the Brewers. It'll be Matt Boyd starting for Chicago and Freddy Peralta taking the mound for Milwaukee.

 

The NLDS is a best-of-five series (all times Central):

• Game 1:  Saturday, October 4 at Wrigley North, 1:08 p.m.
• Game 2:  Monday, October 6 at Wrigley North, 8:08 p.m.
• Game 3:  Wednesday, October 8 at Wrigley Field, 4:08 p.m.
• Game 4:  Thursday, October 9 at Wrigley Field, 8:08 p.m.*
• Game 5:  Saturday, October 11 at Wrigley North, 3:38 p.m.*

*if needed 

 

The winner of this series will face the winner of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Phillies.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

0

HOLY COW!

  

The Cubs beat the Padres 3-1 on Thursday to win their NL Wild Card Series and advance to the National League Division Series!

 

Jameson Taillon had a great start for the Cubs (4 IP, 0 ER 4 K) and the bullpen tossed five innings of one-run ball to secure the victory.

 

The North Siders tallied twelve hits including an insurance homer from Michael Busch, who went 3-for-4 to pace the Cubs. 

 

Defense was the difference in the game, as Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, Michael Busch, and Pete Crow-Armstrong each made plays that ranged from clutch to incredible.

 

The Cubs head to Milwaukee to face the Brewers in Game 1 of the best-of-five NLDS on Saturday. First pitch is at 1:08 p.m. CT.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

1

HOLY COW! The Cubs beat the Padres 3-1 on Tuesday to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three NL Wild Card Series!

The series continues Wednesday at Wrigley; first pitch is at 2:08 p.m. CT.

One more win by the Men in Blue would put them in the NLDS.

GO CUBS GO!

2

The Chicago Cubs host the San Diego Padres Tuesday in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series!

The Cubs Magic Number to advance to the National League Division Series is two.

First pitch is at 2:08 CT.

GO CUBS GO!

0

HOLY COW!

 

Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win! The Cubs beat the Cards 7-3 on Saturday, lowering the Cubs Magic Number to ZERO -- the Cubs have clinched the top Wild Card seed in the National League! They will host all of the Wild Card Series games against the Padres next week.

Here's the schedule for the best-of-three Wild Card Series:

• Game 1:  Tuesday, September 30, 2:08 p.m. CT
• Game 2:  Wednesday, October 1, 2:08 p.m. CT
• Game 3:  Thursday, October 2 (if needed), time TBA

The winner of that series will advance to face the Brewers in the NLDS, which will begin on Saturday, October 4 in Milwaukee.

The regular season wraps up Sunday with one final Cubs-Cards game at Wrigley. For those who will be in attendance, enjoy the last day of Fan Appreciation Weekend. Hopefully Counsell will submit a creative lineup that gives the regulars some rest.

Next up:  this site will reflect the Cubs Magic Number to advance to the National League Division Series!

GO CUBS GO!

 

 

1

Holy cow! The Cubs beat the Cardinals 12-1 on Friday to lower their Magic Number to ONE!

 

The Cubs have already clinched a playoff berth, and will face the Padres in next week's Wild Card Series. All that's left to determine is which of those clubs will host the entire series.

 

The Cubs currently hold a two-game lead over the Padres with two games remaining, so one more Cubs win or Padres loss would give the Cubs the top NL Wild Card seed and home field for all NL Wild Card Series games. 

First pitch for Saturday's Cubs-Cards game is at 1:20 CT while Saturday's night's game at Petco starts at 7:40 CT.  Sunday's games both start at 2:20 CT.

 
Game One of the best-of-three Wild Card Series is Tuesday, Game Two is Wednesday, and, if needed, Game Three would be Thursday. All times are TBA.

160 games down, 2 to go.
 
GO CUBS GO!

 

1

Holy cow! The Cubs beat the Cardinals 12-1 on Friday to lower their Magic Number to ONE!

 

The Cubs have already clinched a playoff berth, and will face the Padres in next week's Wild Card Series. All that's left to determine is which of those clubs will host the entire series.

 

The Cubs currently hold a 2.5 game lead over the Padres, and one more Cubs win or Padres loss would give the Cubs the top NL Wild Card seed and home field for all NL Wild Card Series games. 

 

There are just two regular season games left for the Cubs and three for the Padres:  the Cubs host the Cardinals Saturday and Sunday while the Padres host the Diamondbacks for three weekend games.

 

First pitch for Saturday's Cubs-Cards game is at 1:20 CT while Friday night's game at Petco starts at 8:40 CT.

 
Game One of the Wild Card Series is Tuesday, Game Two is Wednesday, and, if needed, Game Three would be Thursday. All times are TBA.

160 games down, 2 to go.
 
GO CUBS GO!

 

 

2

The Cubs Magic Number for the top NL Wild Card seed is TWO. The Cubs have already clinched a playoff berth, and will face the Padres in next week's Wild Card Series. All that's left to determine is which of those clubs will host the entire series.

 

The Cubs currently hold a two game lead over the Padres, and any combination of Cubs wins and Padres losses totaling two would give the Cubs the top NL Wild Card seed and home field for all NL Wild Card Series games. 

 

There are just three regular season games left for both the Cubs and Padres:  the Cubs host the Cardinals and the Padres host the Diamondbacks.

 

First pitch for Friday's Cubs-Cards game is at 1:20 CT while the game at Petco starts at 8:40 CT.

 
Game One of the Wild Card Series is Tuesday, Game Two is Wednesday, and, if needed, Game Three would be Thursday. All times are TBA.

159 games down, 3 to go.
 
GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

2

Holy cow! The Cubs beat the Mets 10-3 on Wednesday night at Wrigley behind a nice start from Matthew Boyd (5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 3 K) and big nights from Michael Busch, Moises Ballesteros, and Matt Shaw.

The Cubs win, coupled with the Padres' loss earlier in the day, means that the Cubs Magic Number for the top NL Wild Card seed is TWO!

 

The Cubs have already clinched a playoff berth, and any combination of Cubs wins and Padres losses totaling two would give the Cubs the top NL Wild Card seed.
 
The team with the top Wild Card seed doesn't just earn home field advantage in the NL Wild Card Series -- they host all of the games.
 
The Cubs currently hold a 2.5 game lead over the Padres, who have an off day Thursday before heading home to host Arizona for three games this weekend. The North Siders wrap up their series against the Mets Thursday night at Wrigley before hosting the Cards for three weekend games.

158 games down, 4 to go.
 
GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

3

Wednesday in the NL race - Padres lose, Cubs up big over the Mets late at Wrigley. The Padres' loss drops their Magic Number to earn the top Wild Card seed in the National League to 3!
 
The Cubs have already clinched a playoff berth, and any combination of Cubs wins and Padres losses totaling three would give the Cubs the top NL Wild Card seed.
 
The team with the top Wild Card seed doesn't just earn home field advantage in the NL Wild Card Series -- they host all of the games.
 
The Cubs currently hold a two game lead over the Padres, who have an off day Thursday before heading home to host Arizona for three games this weekend. The North Siders wrap up their series against the Mets Thursday night at Wrigley before hosting the Cards for three weekend games.

157 games down, 5 to go.
 
GO CUBS GO!

  

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

4

The Cubs have clinched a playoff berth and their Magic Number to earn the top Wild Card seed in the National League is 4.
 
Any combination of Cubs wins and Padres losses totaling four would give the Cubs the top NL Wild Card seed.
 
The team with the top Wild Card seed doesn't just earn home field advantage in the NL Wild Card Series -- they host all of the games.
 
The Cubs currently hold a 1.5 game lead over the Padres, who host the Brewers on Wednesday night while the North Siders continue their series against the Mets at Wrigley.

157 games down, 5 to go.
 
GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

4

The Cubs have clinched a playoff berth and their Magic Number to earn the top Wild Card seed in the National League is 4.
 
Any combination of Cubs wins and Padres losses totaling four would give the Cubs the top NL Wild Card seed.
 
The team with the top Wild Card seed doesn't just earn home field advantage in the NL Wild Card Series -- they host all of the games.
 
The Cubs currently hold a 2.5 game lead over the Padres, who host the Brewers on Tuesday night.

 

The Cubs kick off a six-game homestand on Tuesday with the Mets coming to town for three followed by a three-game weekend set against the Cards.

156 games down, 6 to go.
 
GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

4

The Cubs have clinched a playoff berth and their Magic Number to earn the top Wild Card seed in the National League is 4.
 
Any combination of Cubs wins and Padres losses totaling four would give the Cubs the top NL Wild Card seed.
 
The team with the top Wild Card seed doesn't just earn home field advantage in the NL Wild Card Series -- they host all of the games.
 
The Cubs currently hold a three game lead over the Padres, who host the Brewers on Monday night. A Padres loss would drop the CMN to 3. The North Siders are idle on Monday.
 
156 games down, 6 to go.
 
GO CUBS GO! 

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

4

Sunday in the NL race:  Cubs lose, Padres win, Brewers win and clinch the NL Central Division title.

 

So, this site now reflects the Cubs Magic Number to clinch the top NL Wild Card seed.

 

Any combination of Cubs wins and Padres losses totaling four would clinch the top NL Wild Card berth for the Cubs.

 

The team with the top Wild Card seed doesn't just earn home field advantage in the NL Wild Card Series -- they will host all of the games in that series.

 

The Cubs hold a three game lead over the Padres for the top NL Wild Card berth. 

 

156 games down, 6 to go.

 

GO CUBS GO! 

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

4

Friday in the NL race:  Cubs lose to the Reds, Padres lose to the White Sox, Cubs Magic Number for the top NL Wild Card seed drops to 4!

 

Any combination of Cubs wins and Padres losses totaling four would result in the Cubs hosting all of the games in the best-of-three NL Wild Card Series.

 

Cubs Magic Numbers:

 

Top NL Wild Card seed:  4

 

NL Central Division title:  14 

 

The Cubs have a five-game lead over the Padres for the top Wild Card seed and sit six games back of Milwaukee in the division.

 

The Cubs-Reds series continues Saturday in Ohio. 

 

154 games down, 8 to go.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

  

5

Thursday in the NL race:  Cubs lost a pitchers' duel to the Reds 1-0, Padres lost to the Mets, and the Brewers beat the Angels. The Padres' loss dropped the CMN for the top NL Wild Card seed!

The Cubs have already clinched a playoff berth -- now it's just a matter of seed.

Magic numbers:

Top NL Wild Card Seed:  5

 

NL Central Division Title: 15

The top Wild Card seed doesn't just get home field advantage in the Wild Card Series, they get to host all of the games in that round. The top two division winners get byes in the Wild Card round.

The Cubs hold a five game lead over San Diego for the top Wild Card seed and sit six games behind Milwaukee in the Central.

 

The Top NL Wild Card Seed CMN drops with any Cubs wins or Padres losses.

 

The NL Central Division Title CMN drops with any Cubs wins or Brewers losses. 

 

On Friday, the North Siders continue their series against the Reds at Great American, the Padres head to the South Side to kick off a three-game weekend against the White Sox, and the Brewers start a three-game set with the Redbirds at Busch.

 

153 games down, 9 to go.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 

0

HOLY COW! The Cubs beat the Pirates 8-4 on Wednesday to sweep the series and CLINCH a playoff berth! The Cubs will head to the postseason for the first time since 2020!

 

Ian Happ and Moises Ballesteros had back-to-back jacks to pace the Cubs to a 4-0 lead in the 1st and the bullpen tossed six innings of scoreless ball to secure the win.

 

The CMN to earn the top Wild Card seed is 6. The top Wild Card seed will host all of the games in the NL Wild Card Series. The Cubs sit 5 games ahead of the Padres, who face the Mets at Citi Field on Wednesday night.

 

The CMN to win the NL Central is 15. Division winners get a bye in the NL Wild Card Series playoff round. The Cubs sit 4.5 games back of the Brewers, who play in Anaheim on Wednesday night.

 

The North Siders kick off a four-game set in Cincinnati on Thursday before returning to the Friendly Confines for the final six games of the season.

 

152 games down, 10 to go.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 
 

1

Hey hey! The Cubs beat the Pirates 4-1 on Tuesday behind a nice start from Cade Horton (5 IP, 1 ER, 6 K), a 3-for-4 night from Michael Busch, two RBI from Pete Crow-Armstrong, and four scoreless relief innings from the bullpen!

With the win, the CMN for a playoff berth drops to ONE!  Here are all of the CMNs:

Playoffs: 1

1st Wild Card: 7

Division: 16

 

The Cubs can clinch a playoff berth -- for the first time since 2020 -- on Wednesday with a win against Pittsburgh or with a Diamondbacks loss. The Cubs-Bucs game is underway at PNC.

 

151 games down, 11 to go.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

 

2

Holy cow! The Cubs shut out the Bucs 4-0 on Monday behind a quality start from Jameson Taillon (6 IP, 2 H, 3 K) and homers from Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong!

 

The Giants lost on Monday, dropping the CMN for a playoff berth to TWO! 

 

Here's the full CMN breakdown:

Playoff Berth:  2

1st Wild Card:  9

Division Title:  17

 

The Cubs - Pirates series continues Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

It's possible for the Cubs to clinch a playoff berth on Tuesday if...

 

Cubs win (87 wins)

Giants lose (86 win maximum)

Reds lose (86 win max)

 

The D-Backs have an 87 win maximum, so a Cubs win would ensure at least a tie (at 87 wins) and they hold the tiebreaker over Arizona with a 4-3 regular season record over the Snakes.

 

Regardless of what the other teams do, if the Cubs win two more games, they are IN the playoffs! At that point, this page will reflect the CMN to clinch the top Wild Card berth and its home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. 

 

150 games down, 12 to go.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

 

18

Holy mackerel! The Cubs came back to beat the Rays 4-3 on Sunday behind nine strikeouts from Shota Imanaga and four scoreless relief innings from the bullpen.

Ian Happ homered and Nico Hoerner went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Here are the CMNs as of Sunday night:

Playoffs:  4 

1st Wild Card:  10

Division:  18

 

Here are the teams to beat, and where the Cubs stand compared to those teams, based on current standings:

 

Playoffs:   Giants (+10)

1st Wild Card:  Padres (+3.5)

Division:  Brewers (-5.5)

The Brewers and Giants lost on Sunday while the Padres won.

The North Siders kick off a seven-game road trip on Monday in Pittsburgh and could clinch a playoff berth as early as Tuesday. Stay tuned!

149 games down, 13 to go.

GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

20

Holy cow! The Cubs came back to beat the Rays 6-4 on Friday behind four perfect relief innings from the bullpen and three hits from Ian Happ.

Happ, who drove in two, is having a torrid September, with a 1.050 OPS coming off of a nice August (.835 OPS). Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, and Moises Ballesteros each had two hits.

Hoerner is also having a great September, with a 1.032 OPS.

Here's how the win dropped the CMN:

•Division:  20

•1st Wild Card:  12

•Playoffs:  7

The series continues Saturday at Wrigley, when the Cubs will honor Captain Anthony Rizzo as he officially retires from MLB. 

147 games down, 15 to go.

GO CUBS GO!

21

Holy cow! The Cubs beat the Braves 3-2 on Wednesday behind 4.2 scoreless innings from the 'pen in support of Jameson Taillon in his return from the IL.

Nico Hoerner had three hits, Carson Kelly homered, and Seiya Suzuki & Justin Turner each tallied an RBI.

In the NL race, both the Brewers and Giants lost, so the CMN for a Wild Card berth drops to 8!

The North Siders have an off day Thursday before the Rays come to the federal landmark for a three-game set starting Friday.

146 games down, 16 to go.

GO CUBS GO!

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

The CMN for a Wild Card berth is 8!

27

Sunday in the NL race:  the Cubs lost a heartbreaker to the Nats while the Brewers won and the Giants lost, dropping the Wild Card CMN to 11!

Daniel Palencia imploded in the 9th, giving up four earned runs and recording zero outs before exiting with an apparent shoulder injury. Porter Hodge allowed an inherited runner to score, giving Palencia five earned runs in 0.0 innings of work. Neither that stat line nor his injury are good news for Cubs fans.

 

The Cubs inducted Derrek Lee and Sammy Sosa into the Cubs Hall of Fame on Sunday, and the former teammates led a spirited if not lyrically precise rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th inning stretch. It was great to see them both back in Chicago this weekend.

Despite Sunday's loss, the North Siders continue to lead the Wild Card hunt over the Padres (+3 games), Mets (+5), and Giants (+9). Meanwhile, the MLB-best Brewers have extended their division lead to 7.5 games.

The Cubs head to Atlanta for a quick three-game road trip that starts Monday. The Men in Blue took two of three games from the Braves last week; here's hoping they fare at least as well this week.

 

143 games down, 19 to go. 

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

The CMN for an NL Wild Card berth is 11.

 

27

Saturday in the NL race - Cubs lose 2-1 to the Nationals (yes, you read that correctly), Brewers win, Giants lose.

 

The Giants loss drops the CMN for a Wild Card berth to 12.

Milwaukee's win drops the North Siders to 6.5 games back in the Central.

The rubber game of the Cubs-Nats series is Sunday at Wrigley, when former teammates Derrek Lee and Sammy Sosa will be inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame.

 

The Cubs head to Atlanta for a three-game set on Monday.

142 games down, 20 to go.

GO CUBS GO!

The CMN for a Wild Card berth is 12.

27

Holy cow! The Cubs beat the Nats 11-5 on Sammy Sosa Friday at Wrigley behind homers from Dansby Swanson, Reese (not Mark) McGuire, Nico Hoerner, and Ian Happ!

 

Kittredge, Rogers, and Hodge combined to toss a scoreless 7th, 8th, and 9th despite the wind blowing out. 

 

Starter Javier Assad threw 5.1 innings of two-run ball, but Caleb Thielbar relieved Assad and allowed two inherited runners to score, tagging Javy with two more earned runs on the day. It didn't matter, as the North Siders had piled up an 8-2 lead before Assad started the 6th.

 

Sosa and former teammate Derrek Lee will both be inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame on Sunday. Sosa was honored today and Lee will be honored on Saturday. 

 

With today's Cubs win, the CMN for a Wild Card berth drops to 13. Milwaukee (5.5 games ahead of the Cubs in the division race) and San Francisco (9.5 games behind the Cubs in the Wild Card race) are both in action tonight; stay tuned.

 

141 games down, 21 to go.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

Image Credit:  Chicago Cubs

 
 

28

Thursday in the NL race:  the Cubs and Giants were idle while the Brewers lost, dropping the CMN on an off day!

 

The North Siders remain atop the NL Wild Card standings and sit 5.5 games back of Milwaukee in the Central.

 

The Nationals head to Wrigley Friday to kick off a three-game weekend set before the Cubs travel to Atlanta for three more against the Braves starting Monday.

 

140 games down, 22 to go.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

 

29

Wednesday in the NL race:  Cubs lost the series finale to the Braves 5-1 but still win the series. Reds dropped their game against the Blue Jays, the Brewers beat the Phillies, and the Giants beat Colorado to jump ahead of Cincinnati and take the #4 spot in the Wild Card race.

 

Cade Horton had a tremendous start for the Cubs (5 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB), but the bullpen couldn't hold the 1-0 lead to secure the win.

The Cubs Magic Number for a Wild Card berth is 14 and the North Siders remain atop the Wild Card hunt but now sit six games behind Milwaukee in the division race.

 

The Men in Blue have an off day Thursday before the Nationals come to town to kick off a three-game weekend set on Friday.

 

140 games down, 22 to go.

 

GO CUBS GO!

 

  

 

29

Hey hey! The Cubs beat Atlanta 4-3 at Wrigley on Tuesday behind a quality start from Shota Imanaga, a three-run homer from Kyle Tucker, and three scoreless innings from the bullpen!

Ian Happ also tallied an RBI in the 3rd inning as the North Siders held on to pick up another series win and their 80th victory of the season.

 

Kevin Alcantara went 1-for-3 with a run scored in his 2025 debut and Daniel Palencia, who, as Pat Hughes pointed out on tonight's broadcast, did not break with the team out of Spring Training, earned his 22nd save of the season.

 

The series wraps Wednesday at the Friendly Confines before the Nats come to town Friday to kick off a three-game weekend set.

 

139 games down, 23 to go.  

  

GO CUBS GO!

The CMN for a Wild Card berth is 14.