The marathon Major League Baseball season is nearing its final weekend, with the Chicago Cubs and White Sox both securing spots in the playoffs. This marks only the fourth occurrence in MLB history where both teams have reached the postseason in the same year, happening previously in 1906, 2008, and 2020.
Cubs
The Cubs are closing the season in second place in the National League Central for the fourth straight year. The Milwaukee Brewers have clinched their fourth consecutive division title. On Thursday, September 24, 2026, Cubs manager Craig Counsell celebrated with his team in the Wrigley Field clubhouse after ensuring a playoff spot. The Cubs concluded the regular season with a 89-73 record, including a 6-2 victory over the Red Sox in Tampa, Florida on Sunday.
Heading into the playoffs, the Cubs are the NL’s No. 5 seed and will face the fourth-seeded San Diego Padres in a best-of-three wild-card series starting Tuesday in San Diego. The Phillies managed to claim the final wild-card position and No. 6 seed after their Sunday win.
In the postseason, the Cubs have made 22 appearances over 150 seasons, acquiring eight division titles, four wild-card berths, 17 pennants, and three championships (1907, 1908, 2016). Noteworthy, Pete Crow-Armstrong recently became the seventh player in MLB history to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season, concluding with 45 home runs and 41 steals. Prior players achieving this milestone include:
- José Canseco, Athletics, 1988: 42 home runs, 40 stolen bases
- Barry Bonds, Giants, 1996: 42-40
- Alex Rodriguez, Mariners, 1998: 42-46
- Alfonso Soriano, Nationals, 2006: 46-41
- Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves, 2023: 41-73
- Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers, 2024: 54-59
White Sox
The White Sox are completing their regular season with an 84-78 record, including a 4-2 triumph over the Rockies on Sunday. Despite missing out on the AL Central title, which the Guardians secured, the White Sox will start their postseason journey as the No. 6 seed in the American League, playing against the Houston Astros, who won the AL West. The best-of-three wild-card series commences on Tuesday.
Historically, the White Sox have appeared in the postseason 11 times over 125 seasons, claiming six division titles, one wild-card berth, six pennants, and three championships (1906, 1917, 2005).
Playoff Schedule
National League:
- No. 5 Cubs at No. 4 Padres, Petco Park in San Diego
Game 1: Tuesday, 9 p.m.
Game 2: Wednesday, 9 p.m.
Game 3: Thursday, TBD, if necessary - No. 6 Phillies at No. 3 Braves, Truist Park in Atlanta
Game 1: Tuesday, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Wednesday, 1 p.m.
Game 3: Thursday, TBD, if necessary
Nos. 1 and 2 seeds have byes.
Division Series: October 3-10, best of five, 2-2-1 format
No. 1 Brewers vs. Cubs/Padres winner
No. 2 Dodgers vs. Braves/Phillies winner
Championship Series: October 11-20, best of seven, 2-3-2 format
American League:
- No. 6 White Sox at No. 3 Astros, Daikin Park in Houston
Game 1: Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Game 2: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Thursday, TBD, if necessary - No. 5 Red Sox at No. 4 Yankees, Yankee Stadium in New York
Game 1: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Game 3: Thursday, TBD, if necessary
Nos. 1 and 2 seeds have byes.
Division Series: October 3-10, best of five, 2-2-1 format
No. 1 Rays vs. Yankees/Red Sox winner
No. 2 Guardians vs. White Sox/Astros winner
Championship Series: October 11-20, best of seven, 2-3-2 format
World Series: October 23-31, best of seven, 2-3-2 format
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