Wasting your time since 2015.
, the Cubs (84-63) now have a 99.9 percent chance of making the postseason, according to both Baseball Reference and FanGraphs. They can clinch a playoff spot as early as Monday’s opener at Pittsburgh. The Cubs have a 4.5-game lead over San Diego for the No. 1 Wild Card spot and the right to hold the first playoff series at Wrigley Field, Sept. 30 through Oct. 2. The Magic Number is 7.It’s probably way past time to think about the playoff
roster. People will definitely be competing for spots, and I think we might see some surprises. I wouldn’t be surprised to see either Carlos Santana or Justin Turner left off of the roster. Positional flexibility might be a more valuable commodity than what either gentleman brings to the park. Or someone like Moises Ballesteros could hit his way on.
Daniel Palencia played catch Friday and did well, reports say. Michael Soroka is about ready and his next action will be in the majors. Kyle Tucker won’t start running until after the weekend and might be out longer than expected. Seiya Suzuki is ‘ill’ and is day-to-day.
The Cubs opened a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays, hoping to reduce the magic number further. Matthew Boyd was hoping to build off his last game. Christopher Morel said nuh-uh (11) [VIDEO]. Kind of predictable that he’d have a good game.
The Cubs chipped away against Rays tosser Shane Baz [VIDEO], [VIDEO], and then Ian Happ tied things up [VIDEO].
Boyd had settled down after the home run and Moises Ballesteros tripled in the go-ahead run [VIDEO].
It got better [VIDEO]. It needed to [VIDEO]. Happ said ‘take this” (21) [VIDEO], making the score 6-4.
And that’s how it ended, as the bullpen slapped a cover on it.
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- Randy Holt (North Side Baseball*): Cubs’ honoring of Anthony Rizzo feels essential given the time & place. “… why news of his return to the organization as an ambassador isn’t just a feel good story, but something actually important.” Jordan Bastian has more*.
- Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Where Cubs stand in 2025 MLB playoff picture after Atlanta series. “Here’s a look at the Cubs playoff picture with 16 games remaining.“
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs’ collective effort keys series opener win. “With the win, the Cubs moved within five games of the National League Central-leading Brewers, pending the result of Milwaukee’s night game with St. Louis.“ Andy Martinez has more.
- Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball*): Two years in, Cubs are (Finally) learning to win the Craig Counsell way. “… pitch well, establish a lead in the middle innings, and hold on tightly for the remaining number of outs.”
- Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Beyond the box score: Matthew Boyd makes Cubs history in win over Rays. “Boyd picked his right leg up and delivered a strike … to first base.“
- Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): As Cubs build toward playoffs, Cade Horton’s NL Rookie of the Year buzz grows. “You just have to go out there and shrink the moment down,” Horton said.
- Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Cubs’ Kyle Tucker not likely to be activated off injured list when eligible Tuesday. “I would say Tuesday is unlikely right now,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters on Friday.
Food for thought:
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