CHICAGO, Sept. 17, 2025 — The Chicago Cubs are playoff bound, clinching a wild-card spot with their 88th win of the season, an 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Sept. 17.
Mets collapse opens door for surprise NL Wild Card race down the stretch
Sports Pulse
- The Chicago Cubs have secured a playoff berth for the first time since 2020.
- Manager Craig Counsell’s arrival and a trade for Kyle Tucker were key factors in the team’s resurgence.
- The Cubs are likely to host a wild-card series at Wrigley Field, possibly against the San Diego Padres.
This marks a significant turnaround after four seasons of disappointment or mediocrity. The Cubs’ return to October baseball is attributed to strategic investments: luring manager Craig Counsell from Milwaukee with a five-year, $40 million deal and acquiring All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a major trade.
The Cubs now trail the Milwaukee Brewers by 4 1/2 games with 10 games remaining, making a wild-card entry highly probable. They are also poised to host the best-of-three wild-card series at Wrigley Field, with the San Diego Padres being a potential opponent.
Tucker’s presence, however, remains a significant question mark. He is currently sidelined with a calf injury, and his availability for the postseason is uncertain. Furthermore, his status as a free agent after this season will test the Cubs’ long-term commitment to contention.
In the clinching game, home runs from Ian Happ and rookie Moises Ballesteros helped offset another shaky start from lefty Matthew Boyd. Boyd has faced challenges since the All-Star break, especially as his workload increases following injury-plagued seasons.
Despite these uncertainties, the Cubs’ pitching staff appears set for the postseason. Lefty Shota Imanaga and top rookie Cade Horton are expected to form the 1-2 punch at the front of the playoff rotation.
The Cubs’ last playoff appearance was in 2020, a season cut short by a sweep from the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. Their most recent full-season berth came in 2018, ending with a loss in the NL wild-card game to the Colorado Rockies, just a day after a tiebreaker loss to Milwaukee for the Central title.
