Season Overview
The Major League Baseball season is nearing its end with both the Cubs and White Sox chasing playoff spots. The Cubs are looking to secure a second-place finish in the National League Central, with the Milwaukee Brewers likely clinching the title. Meanwhile, the White Sox are vying for the American League Central title, neck-and-neck with the Cleveland Guardians.
Cubs Update
On September 13, 2026, Cubs’ Michael Conforto was seen gearing up at Wrigley Field against the Pirates. The Cubs hold a record of 83-67 going into Monday, with a magic number of nine for a wild-card spot. They are second in the NL Central, trailing the Brewers by 10 games. Currently, the Cubs hold the top spot in the NL wild card, tied with the Phillies, and are 1.5 games ahead of the Padres. The Diamondbacks trail 2.5 games behind the Padres.
The Cubs last qualified for the playoffs in 2025 as a wild card, but they were bested by the Brewers in the division series. Historically, the franchise boasts 22 postseason appearances, with eight division titles, four wild-card berths, 17 pennants, and three championships from 1907, 1908, and 2016.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is close to making history by joining an elite group of players who have achieved at least 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season. He has 41 home runs and 36 stolen bases so far. Prominent players who reached this feat include José Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Shohei Ohtani.
White Sox Update
Randal Grichuk’s game-winning home run on September 12, 2026, was a highlight moment for the White Sox as they emerged victorious against the Cardinals. They have a record of 76-73 and are leading the AL Central by half a game. Their magic number is 13 for claiming the AL Central title.
The White Sox’s last postseason was in 2021, where they were crowned Central champions and entered as the No. 3 seed. The Astros defeated them in the division series. The team has 11 postseason appearances on record, with six division titles and three championships in 1906, 1917, and 2005.
Understanding the Playoff Format
The wild-card round takes place from September 29 to October 1 in a best-of-three format, held entirely at the higher seed’s venue. The series features the No. 5 seed facing the No. 4 seed and the No. 6 seed against the No. 3 seed. Teams holding the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds receive byes.
The division series will occur between October 3-10 using a best-of-five arrangement, moving to a 2-2-1 format: No. 1 seed versus the winner of the No. 4/5 seed matchup, and No. 2 seed against the winner of the No. 3/6 seed game.
The League Championship Series sees a best-of-seven structure from October 11-20 in a 2-3-2 format. The World Series will also be conducted in a best-of-seven, scheduled from October 23-31, maintaining the same 2-3-2 format.