The Cubs embark on their final road series of the regular season with a chance to bury the Cincinnati Reds’ quest for the final National League wild-card spot.
The Cubs have started aligning their pitching staff for the postseason by using a six-man rotation that creates flexibility with how they can deploy it in the wild-card series.
The White Sox begin their final home series of the season Friday, playing host to the San Diego Padres. They’ll have another opportunity to affect playoff seeding next week, traveling to New York for a three-game series against the Yankees starting Tuesday.
Every week during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Cubs and White Sox.
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Kyle Tucker earns Roberto Clemente Award nomination
Tucker might only have one season in a Cubs uniform, but the right fielder still wanted to make an impact in the city.
Tucker was named the Cubs’ Roberto Clemente award nominee this week, coincidently being announced while the team played in the city where Clemente established his baseball legacy. The annual award is presented to an MLB player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field.
He created the Kyle Tucker Foundation in 2022 to support hospice care programs and those who provide the service. Seeing his grandfather Duane go through hospice inspired him to become involved with that cause.
“Us as athletes have a nice little platform to give back into the community and help out people that watch this game and just try and spread some joy in their lives and trying to help out in the community,” Tucker said Monday. “Being able to use baseball in that sense is one of the responsibilities as us as players. And I try and do that as much as I can.”
Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker walks through the dugout in the fifth inning against the Braves on Sept. 1, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Tucker works with hospice facilities in Houston, Chicago and Tampa, Fla. He recently visited Advocate Care Center with Justin Turner to “try to bring some light” to people’s lives at the hospital.
“It’s been really cool just to meet some of the people throughout the facilities and not just the patients that are there dealing with whatever it may be, but also the people that are there working day in and day out for however long that they’ve been there is really cool to kind of see and be part of and just try and help out with,” Tucker said.
Tucker left the team Wednesday morning to travel to his hometown of Tampa to get fresh eyes and additional physical therapy from a PT group he worked with after a shin fracture last season and in the offseason. Manager Craig Counsell did not have any updates on Tucker’s progress Thursday but said Wednesday that he is expected to rejoin the Cubs when their final homestand begins next week.
Sox eyeing players ‘who look the part’ as part of international work.
The international scouting operations for the Sox have undergone an overhaul under the guidance of special assistant to the general manager David Keller.
Changes include turning over the entire international staff.
“Hiring individuals who are, one, experienced, two, extremely hardworking and loyal individuals, is a part of that change,” Keller said Tuesday. “The second part is what I encountered when I took the job: There were a lot of relationships with trainers and agents in Latin America that were broken, and we had to go about mending fences and building positives relationships and making sure that when they thought about talented players and where they wanted to show them and sign them that we were a team that they considered.
“Third, and maybe just as importantly, we’ve gone about hiring individuals who collect data. We subscribe to data services. Every decision that we make, we’re utilizing that information to help support or potentially slow us down when it’s time to make that decision. All three of those things are important changes to the process.”
Keller is excited about “everything” surrounding potential international additions.
“For me, what is most exciting is (general manager) Chris (Getz) has talked about really fixing the foundation here,” Keller said. “I can’t think of anything more foundational than player acquisition and player development, and obviously international player development is a big part of that. What excites me about the players we are scouting and hopefully end up signing is that Chris has a vision for what those players look like, and he’s charged me and the rest of our staff with going out and acquiring those players.
“We’re talking about players who look the part, who have the physical attributes of major-league players. Talking about players who are really athletic, but then also have the skills to back up that size and athleticism.”
Number of the week: 37
Cubs left fielder Ian Happ watches his two-run home run in the first inning against the Pirates on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/AP)
Pittsburgh native Ian Happ thrives when playing at PNC Park, where he extended his on-base streak at the ballpark to 37 games Wednesday, dating to April 10, 2021. He owns an on-base percentage over .400 there during that span.
Week ahead: Cubs
Friday: at Reds, 5:40 p.m., FOX
Saturday: at Reds, 5:40 p.m., Marquee
Sunday: at Reds, 12:40 p.m., Marquee
Monday: off
Tuesday: vs. Mets, 6:40 p.m., Marquee
Wednesday: vs. Mets, 7:05 p.m., ESPN
Thursday: vs. Mets, 6:40 p.m., Marquee
Cubs manager Craig Counsell puts his hand on the shoulder of Daniel Palencia after the closer blew a save and suffered an injury against the Nationals on Sept. 7, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The Cubs could be close to getting right-hander Daniel Palencia back in the bullpen.
Palencia departed for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday morning to begin a rehab assignment. Palencia (right shoulder strain) is eligible to come off the injured list Tuesday, the first day of the Cubs’ final homestand. Ahead of the Triple-A season ending Sunday, Palencia will pitch Friday for Iowa.
Miguel Amaya (left ankle sprain) got a day off Thursday at Iowa but will return to the lineup Friday as his rehab assignment continues. Amaya is 1-for-8 with a strikeout in two games at designated hitter. If his ankle is feeling well enough, Counsell said Amaya could potentially catch over the weekend. Earlier this week, Counsell expressed the importance of Amaya getting at-bats and game reps in order to be considered for the postseason roster.
Ryan Brasier (left groin strain) was unable to make his schedule rehab outing Tuesday because of illness. Counsell expects him to appear for Iowa on Friday or Saturday.
Week ahead: White Sox
Friday: vs. Padres, 6:40 p.m., CHSN/The U
Saturday: vs. Padres, 6:10 p.m., CHSN
Sunday: vs. Padres, 1:10 p.m., CHSN
Monday: off
Tuesday: at Yankees, 6:05 p.m., CHSN
Wednesday: at Yankees, 6:05 p.m., CHSN
Thursday: at Yankees, 6:05 p.m., CHSN
White Sox general manager Chris Getz talks with reporters before a game against the Royals on June 6, 2025, at Rate Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The Sox are in the review stage of the organization during this time of the year, Getz said Wednesday.
Departments, the coaching staff and players are among the deep dives.
“Once we exit the review phase and enter the offseason, we want to continue the momentum we’ve created here,” Getz said. “We are excited about the future. Just anyone that has tracked and followed the White Sox, there have been a lot of brighter moments than years past. People can see and feel the build here and that was really the goal coming in.
“We are going to find ways to improve this. Most importantly we need to have these young players, or players in the organization, have an excellent offseason. Absolutely dominate when it comes to their offseason program and (we’ll be) providing the support that’s needed in that continual development. We are organizing that, we are going to carry that out in the offseason, because this group is vital for the future success of this organization.”
As the season winds down, Getz wants to see the group “finish as strongly as we can.”
“(We’ll) continue to have conversations with (manager) Will (Venable) and the staff and we’ve got coordinators and directors in town, having discussions and (we’ll) make some decisions at the end of the season and continue to build the momentum in the offseason and bring us toward 2026.”
What we’re reading today
Quotable
“I expect him to be back.” — Sox GM Chris Getz on Luis Robert Jr. The Sox hold $20 million club options for Robert for both 2026 and 2027, with $2 million buyouts for either season.