The Chicago Cubs clinched a spot in the MLB playoffs for the second year running with a 2-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday. Their win secured a wild card berth, keeping alive the possibility of a repeat first-round matchup against the San Diego Padres.
Miami opened the scoring in the third inning with an RBI single, but Seiya Suzuki responded with a solo home run in the fifth to level the game. In the sixth, Nico Hoerner’s RBI single proved decisive, giving Chicago the lead they would not relinquish. Reliever Ryan Zeferjahn finished the game with a hitless ninth inning to seal the win.
The Cubs’ postseason qualification came just minutes after their city rivals, the Chicago White Sox, secured their own playoff spot. The White Sox are returning to October baseball after a five-year absence that included three seasons with 100 or more losses. According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, this is only the fourth time in history both Chicago teams have made the playoffs in the same year, the previous occasions being 1906, 2008, and 2020. Thursday also marked the first time both teams clinched on the same day.
Pete Crow-Armstrong continued his impressive season during Thursday’s game by stealing his 40th base, making him the seventh player in MLB history to reach a 40-40 season—40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single campaign.
The Cubs currently sit second in the NL Central behind the Milwaukee Brewers, who wrapped up the division title earlier this month. Chicago’s win over Miami helps solidify their position in the wild card race, though their final seeding remains unsettled. The Cubs and Padres are close in the standings, with both teams jockeying for the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds as the regular season draws to a close.
Last season, Chicago defeated San Diego in the wild card round before falling to the Brewers in the NL Division Series, losing in a decisive Game 5. With Thursday’s victory, the Cubs are set to return to postseason baseball with familiar opponents and familiar stakes awaiting.
The Cubs’ manager has yet to comment publicly on the playoff clinch, and no further details about the postseason schedule were confirmed immediately after the game.
According to Yahoo Sports.
