CHICAGO -- The Cubs felt they left some unfinished business on the table last October, when a return to the postseason ended with a gut punch of a loss to the rival Brewers in the National League Division Series. Getting back into the playoffs this year was not merely a goal, but an expectation.
The Cubs have checked that important box by clinching a place in the NL’s playoff picture, marking the first time the North Siders have reached the postseason in consecutive years since the team’s incredible run across 2015-18. That included the ‘16 World Series triumph that ended the franchise’s 108-year championship drought.
This year, the organization celebrated that 2016 club throughout the season as part of the 10-year anniversary. This Cubs team would love nothing more than to provide the ultimate cherry on top of this year-long party by winning it all again a decade later.
There is still a long road to get to that point. The Cubs have accomplished the first step. What’s next? Here are a few things to consider.
What could the postseason roster look like?
The position-player group for the Cubs is fairly locked in place. Last year, the Cubs went with 14 position players and 12 pitchers for the Wild Card Series, so let’s stick with that breakdown here. The pitching situation is very much written in pencil at the moment, so consider this educated speculation.
C: Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly
1B: Michael Busch
2B: Nico Hoerner
SS: Dansby Swanson
3B: Alex Bregman
OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki
Bench: Gabriel Arias, Michael Conforto, Pedro Ramírez, Matt Shaw, Tyrone Taylor
SP: Matthew Boyd, Clay Holmes, Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, David Peterson
RP: Javier Assad, Aaron Civale, Daniel Palencia, Ryan Rolison, Caleb Thielbar, Jacob Webb, Ryan Zeferjahn
What could change with that roster projection?
The pitching staff is where there are currently a lot of moving parts, and Cubs manager Craig Counsell has a variety of ways he can go with his rotation order. Boyd, Gausman and Imanaga are all candidates to take the ball in Game 1. Given that they started in Friday’s doubleheader in Boston, Holmes and Peterson could be available as early as Game 2. There are options.
“Don’t worry about who’s going to start,” Counsell said on Friday. “Worry about how we’re going to get 27 outs. Really, that’s what’s the biggest thing we’ve got to get through, and we need guys throwing the ball well to do that.”
One thing the Cubs are monitoring on the rotation front as well is the status of Gausman, who injured his left shoulder on a defensive play in his latest outing on Wednesday. The righty played catch on Friday, but has reported soreness still in his non-throwing shoulder. Counsell said the Cubs will know more about his availability by Sunday.
In the bullpen, there are plenty of questions to answer, too. It is possible that one or more of the rotation arms who are not in line to start in the Wild Card round are left off the roster. Chicago also has a group of arms (Assad, Civale, Edward Cabrera and Colin Rea) who have moved from starting to relieving this season. Cabrera was also placed on MLB’s bereavement/family medical emergency list on Friday, so his availability is unclear.
The Cubs also do not have a set closer, so there is also flexibility for building out the back-end group. Once the rotation and multi-inning arms are identified, it will be easier to then project how the rest of the relief group lines up. Counsell and the Cubs’ staff will also be factoring in the opponent for all of these decisions..
What is the postseason schedule
You can click here for MLB’s full postseason schedule.
For the Cubs, the NL Wild Card Series would begin with Game 1 on Sept. 29, followed by Game 2 on Sept. 30 and a potential Game 3 on Oct. 1. The winner of the top Wild Card spot will host the second Wild Card team in one series, while the division winner that does not earn a first-round bye will host the third-ranked Wild Card team in the first round.
Can the Cubs get a first-round bye?
No, the Cubs were eliminated from the NL Central race by the Brewers, who have won four consecutive division titles. Chicago’s potential road to the World Series will begin in the Wild Card round.
Will the Cubs have home-field advantage?
If the Cubs finish at least in a tie for the top Wild Card spot, they would host the second Wild Card winner in the first round. That was the case last year, when the Cubs beat the Padres in three games in a Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field. In fact, Chicago went 4-1 at the Friendly Confines in its two postseason rounds last October.
Who will they face?
The NL Wild Card race remains tight, so stay tuned. As things currently stand, the Cubs would be traveling to San Diego for the first round.
What is the Cubs’ recent playoff history?
The North Siders reached the NL Division Series a year ago, but lost the best-of-five series to the rival Brewers. In that set, Milwaukee won all three of its home games and Chicago won both games at Wrigley Field. Chicago got there after a 92-win season and by taking down San Diego in the Wild Card Series. Prior to last October, the Cubs had not been to the playoffs since a swift Wild Card-round loss to the Marlins in the abbreviated 2020 campaign.