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Cubs left fielder Ian Happ scores against the White Sox on Aug. 17, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs left fielder Ian Happ scores against the White Sox on Aug. 17, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Tribune
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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.

Here’s where things stand.


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Cubs

Record: 88-73 through Friday.

Friday’s results: Swept in doubleheader against Red Sox, losing 4-3 and 2-0.

Games remaining: 1.

NL Central: The Brewers won the division.

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).

40-40 watch: Pete Crow-Armstrong on Thursday become the seventh player in MLB history to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season. He has 45 home runs and 41 stolen bases. The six who accomplished the feat before him:

  • 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

Record: 83-77 through Friday.

Friday’s result: 6-1 win against the Rockies.

Games remaining: 2.

  • 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

  • No. 5 seed at No. 4 seed
  • No. 6 seed at No. 3 seed

Nos. 1 and 2 seeds have byes

Division series

Oct. 3-10, best of five, 2-2-1 format

  • No. 1 vs. No. 4/5 winner
  • No. 2 vs. No. 3/6 winner

League Championship Series

Oct. 11-20, best of seven, 2-3-2 format

World Series

Oct. 23-31, best of seven, 2-3-2 format