AP Photo/Melissa Tamez

The Rundown: Cubs Still Chasing Clincher, Gausman Hurt, Bregman Close to Returning, Padres Leapfrog NL Wild Card Field

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterSeptember 24, 2026

“We can never know about the days to come, but we think about them anyway.” – Anticipation by Carly Simon

Feeling snakebitten yet? Collar a little tight? The Cubs can’t find that elusive win that will put them in the playoffs, they no longer control their own destiny for the top spot of the loser’s bracket, and the Diamondbacks are playing with a purpose that’s so committed it’s making Chicago’s North Side Baseballers look more than a little chickenshit. Too harsh?

If that’s not enough, Kevin Gausman shouted “Next up!” when we were all thinking which pitcher will go to the team infirmary next. Jinxed or ill-fated? Unlucky or star-crossed? More succinctly: What came first, the Cubs or the misery? Do I watch this seemingly cursed franchise because I’m miserable, or am I miserable just because I watch them? It doesn’t really matter because it just ain’t easy being a Cubs fan this morning.

Yeah, it’s just one freaking win, but why is it so damned impossible to get? Where is the 10-run banger when we need it most? One can only hope today is the day. Matthew Boyd is tasked with leading his teammates into the Champagne Room this afternoon, and I’ve never been a bigger proponent of day drinking in my life. He’ll draw Tyler Phillips, who is just average enough to put the fear of God into Cubs fans near and far. He beat the North Siders 10-3 on September 6 in Miami, and Chicago is an anemic 6-8 since. Best to keep those bottles under lock and key unless our hometown heroes can plate six or more runs by the 6th inning. We may want to peruse Boston’s finer bottle shops while we’re at it.

I’ve always hated the Marlins, and I certainly don’t want another Chicago choke job attached to that woebegone franchise. That’s three straight losses to Miami in the season series, so I’ve already put all my faith into Friday’s doubleheader. Those are more often than not splits, or so I’ve been told. Additionally, Dansby Swanson had a breakout day when the Cubs played their last twin bill. Swanson hit a three-run homer and a grand slam against the Mets in the opener on June 24, followed by an RBI triple in the nightcap to finish the day with 11 RBI. A repeat performance will put the Cubs in the postseason, knock wood.

That said, do we really even want the playoffs anymore? Sometimes, it feels like we are content with prolonging the agony. If you’re faced with certain death, do you want it to be over in an instant or would you rather slowly bleed out and die? As Cubs fans, we always choose the latter, and I suppose that’s what makes us different from anybody else. The heartbreak always seems inevitable, yet we continually relish the longest march possible toward the soul-shattering destiny. Why? That path always leaves room for hope.

So, here’s hoping today is clinch day and the start of a very long winning streak. I’ve got my six-pack of Guinness Zero to celebrate.

Cubs News & Notes

Ball Four

You may not be aware of this tradition, but it is kinda cool. These die-hards do this after the final home night game of every season.

Central Intelligence

  • Milwaukee (99-59): The Brewers’ magic number to clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs is one. The Brewers have also never recorded a 100-win season.
  • Chicago (87-71): The Cubs need one win or one Diamondbacks loss to clinch a Wild Card berth for the second consecutive season.
  • Pittsburgh (80-78): The Pirates won’t make the postseason, but they are seventh-best in all of baseball in total team WAR. Pythagoras giveth, and Pythagoras taketh away.
  • St. Louis (77-81): Nine Cardinals players are arbitration-eligible this season, but not all will be tendered contracts.
  • Cincinnati (73-85): The Reds remain in MLB limbo ($) while other small market teams continue to succeed. That sounds a lot like a front office problem.

Born to be Wild

  • San Diego (88-70): The Padres didn’t clinch on Wednesday night, but they might not even need to take the field on Thursday before they do. They’re currently the top Wild Card team after jumping from the No. 6 seed to No. 4, but they’ve lost tiebreakers to both the Cubs and Phillies.
  • Philadelphia (87-71): The Phillies lost last night and fell below San Diego and Chicago in the Wild Card race.
  • Arizona (84-74): The Diamondbacks won their fourth straight to keep their elimination number at two games.

How About That!

Six playoff spots are still up for grabs with four days left in the regular season.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in face-saving mode with the press and with Blue Jays fans.

Toronto was officially eliminated from playoff contention last night.

There is more faith in the Brewers winning the World Series this year than ever before. They’ve certainly got the deepest roster of all contenders. Manager Pat Murphy may never get this close to fielding a championship team again, though we tend to say that every year.

Twin umpires Austin and Taylor Jones made MLB history last night.

The Guardians lost last night, but they remain in control of their own destiny with a one-game lead over the White Sox.

Three from the Bill Chuck Files

  1. No American League Central or AL West team is among the top 10 in baseball by winning percentage.
  2. The White Sox have baseball’s 12th-best record and are still fighting for a first-round bye.
  3. No MLB club has won a full, completed division title with a losing record. The closest was the 2005 Padres, who won the NL West at 82–80. They are the only full-season division winner to finish as low as two games over .500. As of this morning, the Astros and Rangers are tied for the AL West lead at 78-80.

Fun Fact of the Day

The Cubs lead all of baseball with 331 runs scored with two outs. My birthday is 3/31.

Son of a Fun Fact

Swanson has been worth 3.6 fWAR this season despite missing a month to injury and a deep slump that lasted nearly three months.

Apropos of Nothing

Can everybody stop clamoring for a 40th stolen base by Pete Crow-Armstrong? The 40/40 club is a remarkable achievement, but getting caught stealing and potentially costing the team a win in a very heated playoff race is not the side of history I’d like to be on.

If PCA gets it, then great. If he does not and the Cubs still make the playoffs, then that’s fantastic. Trust me, there are several 40/40 seasons in that kid’s future.

Extra Innings

“I’m holding out for a hero ’til the end of the night. He’s gotta be strong, he’s gotta be fast and he’s gotta be fresh from the fight.”

They Said It

  • “It always kind of seems like the baseball gods are going to test you. And it always seems to come at a time when you don’t want it to.” – Gausman
  • “Kind of an awkward position to be in. I dislocated this shoulder in high school a long time ago. I didn’t necessarily do the same exact thing, but just kind of banged it pretty good. It felt fine until I kind of stood up to check the other runner. It just kind of felt the left shoulder was pretty weak at that point.” – Gausman
  • “The ability to show up and perform the next day is what’s most important. And we’ve shown that all year, done that all year. Tomorrow will be no different.” – Swanson

Thursday Walk-Up Song

Gimme some Swanson today, and give it to me early and often. Nobody deserves to lead this team to the playoffs more than that guy.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterSeptember 24, 2026
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