Cubs and White Sox in Intense Playoff Races
The Major League Baseball season has reached its final stretch, and both the Cubs and White Sox are actively pursuing playoffs. The Cubs are highly likely to finish second in the National League Central for the fourth year in a row. The division-leading Milwaukee Brewers appear set to secure their fourth consecutive title. Meanwhile, the White Sox are neck-and-neck with the Cleveland Guardians for the American League Central crown. It’s a significant comeback for the Sox, who are aiming for a first-place finish after three dismal seasons with over 100 losses each.
Cubs Update
The Cubs are showing promising stats:
- Record: 83-67 as of Monday
- Magic number for a wild-card spot: 9
- Elimination number for the NL Central title: 2
- Latest result: Lost 4-3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Games remaining: 12
As of now, they stand second in NL Central, trailing the Brewers by 10 games. They hold the top spot in the NL wild card, tied with the Phillies and 1.5 games ahead of the Padres. The Diamondbacks are in contention, 2.5 games behind the Padres. The Cubs last made the playoffs in 2025 as the top wild card, securing the No. 4 seed. They defeated the Padres 2-1 in the wild-card series but were later eliminated by the Brewers 3-2 in the division series. In their 150-season history, the Cubs have appeared in 22 postseasons, capturing eight division titles, four wild-card berths, 17 pennants, and three championships (1907, 1908, 2016).
Notable Player: Pete Crow-Armstrong
Pete Crow-Armstrong is on the brink of making history by potentially becoming the seventh MLB player to achieve 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season. He currently boasts 41 home runs and 36 stolen bases. Only six players have achieved this feat:
- 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 Acuña Jr. (Braves, 2023): 41-73
- Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers, 2024): 54-59
White Sox Update
Entering Monday, the White Sox have a record of 76-73. They currently lead the AL Central by a slim margin of ½ game over the Guardians. Their magic number to clinch the division title is 13. On Sunday, the White Sox faced a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals and have 13 games remaining. Their last postseason appearance was in 2021, where they entered as Central champions. They were the No. 3 seed in the AL but lost to the Astros 3-1 in the division series. With 11 postseason appearances across 125 seasons, the White Sox have secured six division titles, one wild-card berth, six pennants, and three championships (1906, 1917, and 2005).
Upcoming Playoff Format
The playoffs will proceed as follows:
Wild-card Round (Sept. 29–Oct. 1)
- Best of three series
- All games held at the higher seed’s venue
- No. 5 seed at No. 4 seed
- No. 6 seed at No. 3 seed
The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds receive byes.
Division Series (Oct. 3–10)
- Best of five series
- 2-2-1 format
- Matchups: No. 1 vs. No. 4/5 winner, No. 2 vs. No. 3/6 winner
League Championship Series (Oct. 11–20)
- Best of seven series
- 2-3-2 format
World Series (Oct. 23–31)
- Best of seven series
- 2-3-2 format