Baseball Teams in September Playoff Race
The Major League Baseball season has moved into a September sprint, with the Chicago Cubs and White Sox deeply engaged in playoff pursuits. Both teams aim for postseason success.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are set to secure second place in the National League Central for the fourth year in a row, as the Milwaukee Brewers have already clinched the division title. The team currently holds a record of 87-69.
- Magic number: 1 (a combination of Cubs wins and Arizona Diamondbacks losses to claim a wild-card spot)
- Latest result: A 9-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds
- Games remaining: 6
The Cubs are slightly ahead of the San Diego Padres for the top wild card position and have a one-game advantage over the Philadelphia Phillies. They maintain the tiebreaker advantage against all three teams.
In their playoff history, the Cubs have participated in 22 postseason appearances over 150 seasons, including eight division titles, four wild-card berths, 17 pennants, and three championships (1907, 1908, 2016).
A player to watch is Pete Crow-Armstrong, aiming for the prestigious 40-40 club in MLB. He has hit 45 home runs and stolen 38 bases. Previous players achieving the feat include notable names like José Canseco and Barry Bonds.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are presenting a strong challenge in the American League Central division, battling closely with the Cleveland Guardians for the top spot. Their current record is 79-76.
- Magic number: 5 (a combination of Sox wins and losses by Houston Astros or Toronto Blue Jays)
- Latest result: 3-1 win against the Detroit Tigers
- Games remaining: 7
They trail the Guardians by one game but hold the tiebreaker, which would secure the division title if both teams end with identical records. Currently in the No. 3 wild card spot, the Sox are ahead of the Astros and Blue Jays, with the tiebreaker advantage over the Blue Jays but not the Astros.
Historically, the White Sox have made 11 appearances in the playoffs, garnering six division titles, one wild-card berth, six pennants, and three championships (1906, 1917, and 2005).
Upcoming Playoff Format
The wild-card round is scheduled from September 29 to October 1, following a best-of-three format. Higher seed hosts all games:
- Match-ups: No. 5 seed at No. 4 seed, No. 6 seed at No. 3 seed
Top two seeds move directly to the division series, which takes place on October 3-10, formatted as best-of-five.
- Division series: No. 1 seed against the winner of No. 4/5 and No. 2 against No. 3/6
League Championship Series is set for October 11-20, with a 2-3-2 format. The World Series follows on October 23-31, also in a 2-3-2 format.
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