The Chicago Cubs are officially back in the postseason, clinching an MLB playoff spot for the second straight season with a tight 2-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday. This isn’t just another clinch, either. Star outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong put on a show during the game, stealing his 40th base of the season to achieve a legendary 40-40 season, becoming only the seventh player in MLB history to hit that mark while continuing his MVP campaign.
Chicago’s Double Clinch and a Historic Night
Talk about wild. The Cubs secured their postseason berth mere minutes after their cross-town rivals, the Chicago White Sox, punched their own ticket. The White Sox are back after a tough five-year break and three 100-loss seasons, so this is a huge moment for Chicago baseball. It’s just the fourth time in MLB history that both the Cubs and the White Sox are heading to the playoffs in the same year. That’s a rare feat, happening only in 1906, 2008, 2020, and now 2026. What’s even crazier? Thursday marked the first time *both* Chicago teams clinched on the very same day. On the field, the Marlins got on the board first with an RBI single in the third, but Seiya Suzuki tied it up with a solo homer in the fifth. Nico Hoerner’s RBI single in the sixth was all the Cubs needed, with reliever Ryan Zeferjahn locking it down with a hitless ninth inning.
Crow-Armstrong’s MVP Push and a Familiar Postseason Road
Seriously, Pete Crow-Armstrong going 40-40 in an MVP-level season as the team clinches? That’s the stuff of legends. This team is rolling with that kind of individual brilliance leading the way. The Cubs’ victory seals a wild card berth in the postseason. It looks like they’re heading for a first-round clash with the San Diego Padres. These two teams have super close records, so they’ll be battling it out for the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds right down to the final games of the season. The Milwaukee Brewers already locked up the NL Central earlier this month, meaning the Cubs are set to finish second in that division. This matchup against the Padres feels a bit like déjà vu, too. Last season, the Cubs returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and took down San Diego in the first round before eventually falling to the Brewers in a deciding Game 5 of the NL Division Series.
So, get ready! The Cubs are back, Pete Crow-Armstrong is making history, and a postseason rematch with the Padres is on deck. It’s going to be an intense ride to see who grabs that higher seed!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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