The Chicago Cubs will not only be in the postseason for the first time since 2020, but they’ll host the National League wild-card series against the San Diego Padres.
The Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 on Saturday to secure home-field advantage come the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets are tied at 83-78 for the NL’s third and final wild-card spot. The Reds beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 on Saturday, while the Mets blanked the Miami Marlins 5-0.
Heading into their final games of the regular season on Sunday, Cincinnati owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over New York. The Reds make the playoffs with a win against the Brewers or a Mets loss to the Marlins.
Cubs 7, Cardinals 3
October baseball returns to Wrigley Field
Do you want the good news or the bad news first?
With Saturday’s victory, the Cubs clinched home-field advantage against the Padres in the wild-card round. That matchup becomes even more challenging after the pregame move that placed Cade Horton on the 15-day injured list with a fractured right rib, which puts his entire postseason in jeopardy.
“Cade’s been incredible,” winning pitcher Jameson Taillon said after striking out eight and limiting the Cardinals to one run over six innings. “He picked us up a lot this year when I was down for a while, when Shota (Imanaga) was down for a while. So now it’s our turn to try to pick him up and make sure he can hopefully play a part as we get going into the playoffs.”
The Cubs (91-70) have not hosted a full-capacity crowd for a postseason game since 2018. Their last playoff appearance was a brief one after the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when they scored one run during two losses to the Marlins. That bleak scene foreshadowed an organizational rebuild.
In trying to secure home-field advantage — and while bracing for a Horton setback — the Cubs rearranged their rotation and moved up Taillon from Sunday’s Game 162. Five days from now, Taillon (11-7, 3.68 ERA) could be starting an elimination game.
“I haven’t been told anything, but I’m definitely going to be prepared for anything,” Taillon said. “I don’t know what the exact role will be, or what will be asked, but I’ll make sure I’m ready for it.” — Patrick Mooney, Cubs beat writer
Reds 7, Brewers 4
Reds’ playoff hopes come down to Game 162
The Reds used a six-run third inning against Brewers starter Robert Gasser and All-Star Jacob Misiorowski to hold off Milwaukee and enter the last day tied with the Mets for the third and final wild-card spot.
Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker over the Mets, thanks to winning four of the six matchups between the two teams this season, meaning they’re in with a win Sunday. A Mets’ loss on Sunday would also send the Reds to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers in the Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday.
While everything is on the line for the Reds on Sunday, the Philadelphia Phillies’ 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday clinched home-field advantage for the Brewers throughout the playoffs. Milwaukee (96-65) sends 17-game winner Freddy Peralta to the mound against the Reds’ Brady Singer. — C. Trent Rosecrans
Mets 5, Marlins 0
New York pitching staff in good shape for Sunday
Clay Holmes provided the Mets exactly what they needed and then some with a quality start. Despite appearing in Wednesday’s game, he threw six scoreless innings Saturday. After spending the previous six seasons as a reliever, he made 31 starts and had a 3.53 ERA. Since mid-June, he has thrown six innings in just one game (on Aug. 23). Undoubtedly, this was his best moment.
After receiving length from Holmes, manager Carlos Mendoza went to relievers Brooks Raley (13 pitches), Tyler Rogers (11 pitches) and Edwin Díaz (13 pitches) for one inning each. None of them pitched Friday. The Mets don’t have a long list of great pitching options; it was imperative for their go-to arms to not be running on fumes.
It’s unknown yet who the Mets will start Sunday, though David Peterson and Sean Manaea are among the options. The biggest key, however, is that virtually the whole staff is available. — Will Sammon, Mets beat writer
(Photo of Cubs’ Michael Busch celebrating a home run: Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images)
