Ha-Seong Kim’s arrival has given Atlanta a credible shortstop with Gold Glove-caliber defense and a usable bat, stabilizing a position that dragged the middle of the lineup. In a small sample, he’s hit around .313 with a .766 OPS, delivering a rare dose of power at short. Atlanta is weighing an early extension, leveraging a $16 million option for 2026 and the potential to dodge costly free-agent shortfalls if health cooperates.

Acquired off waivers from the Rays, Kim’s presence has shifted the Braves’ expectations, easing the bite of past shortstop struggles after Dansby Swanson’s departure and Orlando Arcia’s limited impact. If he sustains health, this move could prove a shrewd, franchise-defining bet with tangible fantasy upside across time, averages, and defensive value.

For fantasy managers, Kim’s blend of playing time, defense, and improving bat makes him a sneaky core piece in 2025-26, provided health holds. The extension chatter adds intrigue: a long-term deal could lock in value while keeping cost-controlled upside in a Braves lineup that values both defense and production.

Cubs clinch NL wild-card with an 8-4 win over Pittsburgh as Ian Happ closes it out, turning Gallagher Way into a quick celebration scene.

The piece taps 1984, when Sutcliffe’s gem sparked playoff fever and Durocher and Franks offered timeless Chicago Cubs lore, with fans spilling into Wrigleyville after the marquee flashed Cubs Win.

Since then Chicago has sent the team to the postseason ten times, including 2016's title year. Today’s postgame vibe blends nostalgia with a quieter, weekday ritual around Wrigley, a newer chapter in the Cubs' ongoing chase.

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.