The marathon that is the Major League Baseball season is down to a September sprint, and the Cubs and White Sox clinched postseason berths Thursday. It is only the fourth time in MLB history that both teams have made the playoffs in the same season (1906, 2008 and 2020).
The Cubs will finish in second place in the National League Central for the fourth consecutive season — with the first-place Milwaukee Brewers having clinched their fourth straight division crown.
The White Sox, meanwhile, are in a neck-and-neck battle with the Cleveland Guardians for the American League Central crown. The Sox are trying to complete a remarkable worst-to-first turnaround after losing more than 100 games each of the last three seasons.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell celebrates with his team in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff spot Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff spot with a victory over the Marlins on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs catcher Carson Kelly (15) celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff spot with a victory against the Marlins on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs catcher Carson Kelly celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff spot Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after clinching a wild-card playoff berth with a victory over the Marlins on Sept. 24, 2026,at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, center, celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff spot with a victory against the Marlins on Sept. 24, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs fans hold "W" flags after a victory over the Marlins on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong celebrates with teammates after clinching a playoff spot with a victory against the Marlins on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
The Cubs pose as a group after clinching a playoff spot with a victory against the Marlins on Sept. 24, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong acknowledges fans after clinching a playoff spot with a victory against the Marlins on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell celebrates with his team in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff spot Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
NL wild card: The Cubs, who clinched a playoff spot Thursday, are 1½ games behind the Padres for the top spot after the Padres lost to the Diamondbacks 11-4 later Friday in San Diego. The Phillies are a half-game behind the Cubs after losing 2-0 to the Rays on Friday. The Diamondbacks trail the Phillies by one game after their win. The Cubs own tiebreakers over the Padres and Phillies.
Last playoff appearance: 2025 as the No. 4 seed in the NL as the top wild card. The Cubs beat the Padres 2-1 in the wild-card series before losing to the Brewers 3-2 in the division series.
Postseason history: 22 appearances in 150 seasons — eight division titles, four wild-card berths, 17 pennants and three championships (1907, 1908, 2016).
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 Acuna Jr., Braves, 2023: 41-73
Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers, 2024: 54-59
White Sox
White Sox players celebrate in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff spot Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
Braden Montgomery, right, and Munetaka Murakami celebrate after the White Sox clinched a playoff berth with a 9-1 win against the Royals on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Tanner Gatlin/Getty)
Mike Vasil holds Kyle Teel as the White Sox celebrate clinching the a playoff berth at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Tanner Gatlin/Getty)
Mike Vasil celebrates after the White Sox clinched a playoff berth Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Tanner Gatlin/Getty)
Munetaka Murakami celebrates in the clubhouse after the White Sox clinched a playoff berth Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Tanner Gatlin/Getty)
Mike Vasil celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after the White Sox clinched a playoff spot with a victory against the Royals on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
Braden Montgomery celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after the White Sox clinched a playoff spot with a win against the Royals on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
Mike Vasil celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after the White Sox clinched a playoff spot Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
Munetaka Murakami (5) and Braden Montgomery celebrate after the White Sox beat the Royals 9-1 to clinch a playoff berth at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Tanner Gatlin/Getty)
Braden Montgomery, left, and Tristan Peters celebrate after the White Sox beat the Royals 9-1 to clinch a playoff berth Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
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White Sox players celebrate in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff spot Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
vs. Rockies, 6:10 p.m. Saturday at Rate Field, CHSN.
vs. Rockies, 2:10 p.m. Sunday at Rate Field, CHSN.
AL Central: The White Sox, who clinched a playoff spot Thursday, trail the first-place Guardians by one game after the Guardians beat the Royals 12-7 on Friday. If the Sox and Guardians finish with the same record, the Sox own the tiebreaker and would win the division title.
AL wild card: The Sox hold the No. 3 spot but could win the AL Central and drop the Guardians into the wild-card picture.
Last playoff appearance: 2021 as the AL Central champions and No. 3 seed in the AL. The White Sox lost to the Astros 3-1 in the division series.
Postseason history: 11 appearances in 125 seasons — six division titles, one wild-card berth, six pennants and three championships (1906, 1917, and 2005).
Playoff format
Wild-card round
Tuesday-Thursday, best of three, all at the higher seed