Crow-Armstrong stole his 40th base Sept. 24, becoming the seventh player in MLB history -- and the first Cub ever -- to reach 40 homers and 40 steals in a season. He entered the day with an MLB-leading 9.8 WAR.

MLB moved Chicago's season-ending game against Boston from Fenway Park to neutral-site Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg to avoid an incoming storm, shifting the Sunday finale to 3:05 p.m. ET. The Cubs, already in as a Wild Card team, are swept in a Friday doubleheader before the move.

Gausman reported soreness in his throwing shoulder after his most recent outing; his availability for next week is uncertain, though the club hopes he'll be ready for the NLDS if the Cubs advance.

The Cubs have not indicated plans to activate the left-hander from the IL this weekend, meaning his season will likely end without a major-league appearance.

Happ, a Cub for a decade, may not return next season as he nears free agency; separately, Marquee Sports Network broadcaster Taylor McGregor is departing for ESPN.

Bregman was named the designated hitter for Friday's doubleheader opener against Boston, his first appearance since a Sept. 21 foul-ball incident sent him to the hospital with facial fractures. He was slotted at DH rather than his usual infield spot.

Chicago's two clubs clinched postseason berths Thursday within two minutes of one another — the fourth time in more than 125 years both Chicago teams have made the playoffs in the same season, and the first since 2020. "If they were to play each other in the World Series, it would be one of the great things to ever happen to the city of Chicago," longtime broadcaster Steve Stone said. Cubs president Jed Hoyer exchanged congratulatory texts with White Sox GM Chris Getz during the clinching day.

Alex Bregman suffered multiple facial fractures from a foul ball on Sept. 20. His vision is reportedly unaffected and he was not diagnosed with a concussion; no surgery has been reported. He has begun cage work tracking pitches on a Trajekt simulation machine, and manager Craig Counsell did not rule out Bregman playing this weekend in Boston, with a plan to have him back "at the latest" for the postseason. Bregman: "I hope so...I'm going to try to get in there tonight."

Gausman injured his left shoulder applying a tag at third base and was replaced mid-game. Manager Craig Counsell said the shoulder "got extended kind of weird" and Gausman is "a little sore" pending further evaluation; Matthew Boyd would start Game 1 of the playoffs if Gausman can't go.

Matthew Boyd threw seven innings of one-run ball and Pete Crow-Armstrong stole his 40th base to become the 7th player in MLB history to reach 40 homers and 40 steals in a season, as Chicago clinched a playoff berth at Wrigley Field.

As many as nine contributors — including Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Kevin Gausman — could reach free agency this winter, while the front office is described as committed to building around Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner, Michael Busch, Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman.

Steele threw a scheduled bullpen session Wednesday, after which the club planned to evaluate whether he's available for a lower-leverage role this weekend or shut down for the season.

Chicago sits in an 87-70, three-way tie with Philadelphia and San Diego for the NL's wild-card spots but holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over both, meaning one more win or one more Diamondbacks loss would clinch a playoff berth. The Cubs lost 3-2 to a spoiler-minded Marlins club on September 23.

Pete Crow-Armstrong is two stolen bases shy of a 40-homer, 40-steal season, one of only seven such seasons in MLB history, adding to his case in this year's NL MVP race as Chicago enters its final week.

Manager Craig Counsell confirmed on the record Tuesday that Alex Bregman, who suffered multiple facial fractures from a foul ball off Michael Busch's bat on Sept. 20, will not be placed on the injured list and could return as soon as this weekend. Six games remained in the regular season. Bregman had earlier posted to Instagram showing his swollen face and writing 'I'll be back.'

Chicago lost its Tuesday series opener against Miami in extra innings, pausing its bid to clinch a playoff berth. The Cubs hold a tiebreaker over the Padres and Phillies for the NL's top wild-card seed; they close the season at Miami and then Boston.

With the club one win (or one D-backs loss) from clinching, the front office is moving ahead on postseason logistics — public on-sale opens tomorrow (9/23, 10am CT) for any NL Wild Card Series games at Wrigley (9/29-10/1), a concrete signal of how close the Cubs are and a real service item for local fans planning to attend. - Public on-sale for potential Wild Card Series games at Wrigley (Tue 9/29-Thu 10/1) opens Wed 9/23 at 10am CT at cubs.com/postseason. - Limit of four tickets per game, mobile-only via MLB Ballpark app. - Separate "Fly the W" presale registration for NLDS-and-beyond home

This is the Cubs' last home series of the regular season and they control their own fate for NL Wild Card positioning and potential home-field advantage in Round 1 — meaningful stakes for a Wrigley crowd, layered with in-game milestones (Pete Crow-Armstrong's stolen-base chase, Dansby Swanson's return from injury) that give the homestand extra local texture. - Cubs took 2 of 3 from Reds over the weekend; Marlins (76-80) already eliminated from playoff contention but improved from last season, strong on-base offense (Griffin Conine, Kyle Stowers hot down the stretch). - Pete Crow-Armstrong ne

Bregman posted to his Instagram story showing his left eye swollen shut, captioned "I'll be back," with no return timeline given. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Sunday's game he didn't have further information: "I don't know anything more than that. I'm hoping and praying he is all right. We have to get good results from the hospital first." Matt Shaw replaced Bregman in the lineup after the incident. Per Cubs Insider's report, Bregman has multiple facial fractures and is not expected to need surgery.

David Peterson allowed one run over six innings and Pete Crow-Armstrong homered again; Chicago needs one more win or an Arizona loss to clinch, which would be the franchise's 4th stretch of consecutive postseason trips.

The team's MLB-leading defensive numbers dipped sharply during Swanson's roughly monthlong absence and have begun rebounding since his return Friday.

The manager has treated the last three series as playoff dress rehearsals; Daniel Palencia threw two perfect innings Saturday and profiles for a setup role in October.

Triple-A Iowa beat Omaha while Double-A Knoxville was eliminated from its playoff series, effectively closing the system's minor-league year.