CHICAGO -- The stage has been set. After clinching their first spot in the postseason in five years, the Cubs checked off the next goal of earning the right to host playoff games at Wrigley Field. The Padres will be heading to the Friendly Confines when the teams square off in the National League Wild Card Series.
“It’s a really good feeling,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s mostly about the people that support us for 81 games being able to see us play again. That’s really important, and that’s really special. Of course, as a team, we wanted to play here. It’s Wrigley. It’s home.”
The Cubs had not made the playoffs since hosting a Wild Card Series in 2020, but there were no fans in the stands and the North Siders were swept by the Marlins. The last time Chicago had a full house in a postseason setting was during the ‘18 Wild Card Game at Wrigley. Chicago has not won a playoff game since ‘17.
There are still some questions to sort out before the NL Wild Card Series arrives on Tuesday. Who will make the Cubs’ playoff roster? What is Kyle Tucker’s status for the postseason? Who might start Games 1 and 2 now that Cade Horton is injured?
Here is a breakdown of where things stand for the Cubs as the postseason looms. This will continue to be updated as more information becomes clear in the coming days.
What could the postseason roster look like?
Here’s what the 26-man postseason roster could look like, though it’s obviously subject to change depending on the health of some players and the performance of others.
Catchers (2): Carson Kelly, Reese McGuire
First baseman (1): Michael Busch
Second baseman (1): Nico Hoerner
Shortstop (1): Dansby Swanson
Third baseman (1): Matt Shaw
Outfielders (4): Kevin Alcántara, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker
DH (2): Seiya Suzuki, Moisés Ballesteros
Utility (2): Willi Castro, Justin Turner
Starters (3): LHP Matthew Boyd, LHP Shota Imanaga, RHP Jameson Taillon
Bullpen (9): RHP Aaron Civale, RHP Brad Keller, RHP Andrew Kittredge, RHP Daniel Palencia, LHP Drew Pomeranz, RHP Colin Rea, LHP Taylor Rogers, RHP Michael Soroka, LHP Caleb Thielbar
Will the Cubs host the first round of the Wild Card Series?
The Cubs beat the Cardinals, 7-3, on Saturday to secure home-field advantage for the best-of-three Wild Card Series.
How have the Cubs fared at home this season?
With Sunday’s win, the Cubs improved to 50-29 at Wrigley Field. The North Siders have two more “home” losses this year, but those were part of the season-opening Tokyo Series against the Dodgers. Chicago’s pitchers have logged a 3.61 ERA in 79 games at Wrigley, compared to a 3.99 ERA on the road. The offense has been relatively consistent across the board, averaging 4.9 runs per game at Wrigley Field and 5.0 runs per game on the road.
How did the season series go between the Cubs and Padres?
A lot has changed for the Cubs and Padres, considering they were finished with their season series in April. When San Diego came to Wrigley Field from April 4-6, the Cubs picked up two wins in three games and outscored the Padres 17-10. At Petco Park from April 14-16, the Padres took two out of three and outscored the Cubs 15-8. That’s right, not only did they split the series overall, but the teams finished 25-25 in runs scored.
What will the Cubs’ pitching rotation look like?
Shortly before Saturday’s game against the Cardinals, the Cubs announced that rookie Cade Horton was placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Thursday) with a right rib fracture. That unexpected blow to the rotation removes Horton – one of baseball’s top arms in the second half and a top NL Rookie of the Year contender – from at least the NL Wild Card round.
Horton was a leading candidate to take the ball in Game 1 or 2, but Boyd will now get the ball in the series opener, with Imanaga likely to get the second game. Taillon started on Saturday against St. Louis, lining him up more for a potential Game 3 scenario. Assad and Rea would be next on the depth chart, but likely in the bullpen as multi-inning options.
What’s the status of the Cubs’ injured players?
• Horton exited his start on Tuesday after three innings and 29 pitches with tightness in his mid-back and right rib cage. Counsell said an MRI showed “areas of concern,” but the Cubs were “comfortable” moving forward. Horton resumed throwing on Friday-Saturday with a bullpen session in the plans for Sunday. Things changed with the IL placement on Saturday. Horton will not be eligible for activation until Oct. 10, which falls late in the NL Division Series round.
• Tucker was activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday, following a nearly month-long bout with a left calf strain. He is initially getting at-bats as a DH as he continues to build up his running work. Counsell has not ruled out a return to the outfield for the NL Wild Card Series.
• Catcher Miguel Amaya has been on the 10-day IL since mid-August due to a left ankle sprain. If he is not deemed ready for the playoffs, Chicago has a capable backup in McGuire, who has filled in admirably this year. Amaya moved his rehab to Arizona, but he is scheduled to join the Cubs on Monday to be evaluated.
• Reliever Ryan Brasier (left groin strain) recently had a rehab stint with Triple-A Iowa and has been back with the Cubs as a depth option.
• Pipeline’s top Cubs prospect, outfielder Owen Caissie (No. 44 on the Top 100 list), has been on MLB’s concussion list since Sept. 14. His status is unclear right now.
How will the Cubs handle right field if Tucker is limited to DHing?
While Tucker was out, the Cubs used a rotation of players in right field, with Suzuki as the primary option. The versatile Castro can also man right and Alcántara can help as needed, too. Once Tucker is deemed ready for the outfield again, Suzuki would be the main DH option, though Ballesteros has impressed in his latest stint in the Majors.
Palencia is back, but is he the closer?
With the exception of Palencia, who earned the closer’s role by midseason, Counsell has avoided placing labels on his late-inning relievers. Beyond Palencia, Keller has been a primary high-leverage arm, along with Thielbar and Kittredge. Pomeranz has also handled important innings. Those are the main options for the back end, with an assortment of others filling the bridge innings. Palencia might get save chances again, but the immediate goal is to get appearances under his belt after missing time with a right shoulder issue.
How might the rest of the bullpen look for the playoffs?
In a Wild Card Series, the Cubs would need to have only three starting pitchers. That could remain the case for the Division Series round, but that best-of-five setting opens the possibility for a fourth starter. Depending on who gets the nod for Game 1 and Game 2 Boyd, Civale, Rea and/or Taillon could be bullpen options for the first round. It’s also possible one or two might get left off a Wild Card roster, if Counsell opts for more position players than pitchers.