Chicago Cubs clinch a postseason berth, their first since 2020, and set the stage for a potential top Wild Card seed as the NL field tightens around them. Milwaukee and Philadelphia already locked in, with Dodgers and Padres in the mix for byes and seeds as the Mets and others jockey for the last wild-card spots. Cubs rotation likely features Imanaga, Horton, and Boyd as playoff anchors, while the lineup combines solid runs with strong defense. Injuries to Kyle Tucker and Daniel Palencia could shift late-season usage as Chicago plans October rest and postseasons auditions. Blue Jays loom as the next likely clincher in the NL-wide race.

Hoyer’s Cubs, rebuilt since Theo Epstein’s exit, balance offense and pitching with a +129 run differential and a run-scoring edge near the league's top. The Cubs sit eight and a half games clear of the Padres for the top wild-card, with a potentially favorable path through a Wild Card Series at home. Rested veterans and emergent youngsters will share responsibilities as October approaches, while the broader NL picture—Brewers, Phillies, Dodgers, Padres, and Mets—points toward a compressed, high-stakes finish.

The Cubs clinch their playoff spot with an 8-4 victory over the Pirates, led by Ian Happ’s homer and three RBIs as Chicago extends its win streak to four and sits atop the NL wild-card race at 88-64. Nico Hoerner tallies two hits and scores three times, while Michael Busch adds a leadoff walk and a sac fly that sparks a key three-run sixth. Aaron Civale handles three scoreless innings for the win, and Chicago’s offense pounced early, leveraging a balk and an opponent’s mis plays to seize control.

Moises Ballesteros adds a second career homer, and Justin Turner provides RBI singles in a six-run sixth that breaks the game open. Pittsburgh’s Joey Bart hits a three-run shot in the bottom half, but the Cubs’ early surge—paired with a shaky start by Johan Oviedo—keeps Chicago in command. The Pirates fall to 10-3 in the season series, as Chicago solidifies its postseason trajectory.