The marathon that is the Major League Baseball season is down to a September sprint, and the Cubs and White Sox are in the thick of a playoff hunt.
The Cubs are all but assured for a second-place finish in the National League Central for the fourth consecutive season — with the first-place Milwaukee Brewers headed for their fourth straight division crown.
The White Sox, meanwhile, are in a neck-and-neck battle with the Cleveland Guardians for the American League Central crown. The Sox are trying to complete a remarkable worst-to-first turnaround after losing more than 100 games each of the last three seasons.
Here’s where things stand.
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Cubs
Cubs pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn celebrates with catcher Carson Kelly (15) after the Cubs defeated the Braves 7-3 at Wrigley Field Sept. 14, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Record: 84-67 entering Tuesday
Magic number for wild-card spot: 8
Elimination number for NL Central title: 2
Monday’s result: 7-3 win over the Atlanta Braves
Games remaining: 11
NL Central standings: Cubs are in second place, 9 1/2 games behind the Brewers
NL wild card: Cubs hold the No. 1 spot, a half-game ahead of the Phillies and 2 ahead of the Padres. The Diamondbacks are still in the picture, 2 1/2 games behind the Padres.
Last playoff appearance: 2025 as the No. 4 seed in the NL as the top wild card. The Cubs beat the Padres 2-1 in the wild-card series before losing to the Brewers 3-2 in the division series.
Postseason history: 22 appearances in 150 seasons — eight division titles, four wild-card berths, 17 pennants and three championships (1907, 1908, 2016).
40-40 watch: Pete Crow-Armstrong is trying to become the seventh player in MLB history to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season. He has 42 home runs and 37 stolen bases. The six who accomplished the feat:
José Canseco, Athletics, 1988: 42 home runs, 40 stolen bases
Barry Bonds, Giants, 1996: 42-40
Alex Rodriguez, Mariners, 1998: 42-46
Alfonso Soriano, Nationals, 2006: 46-41
Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves, 2023: 41-73
Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers, 2024: 54-59
White Sox
White Sox’s Miguel Vargas celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Guardians in Cleveland on Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Record: 77-73 entering Tuesday
AL Central standings: White Sox are in first place, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Guardians
Magic number: 10 for AL Central title
Monday’s result: 7-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians
Games remaining: 12
Last playoff appearance: 2021 as the AL Central champions and No. 3 seed in the AL. The White Sox lost to the Houston Astros 3-1 in the division series.
Postseason history: 11 appearances in 125 seasons — six division titles, one wild-card berth, six pennants and three championships (1906, 1917, and 2005).
Playoff format
Wild-card round
Sept. 29-Oct. 1, best of three, all at the higher seed
No. 5 seed at No. 4 seed
No. 6 seed at No. 3 seed
Nos. 1 and 2 seeds have byes
Division series
Oct. 3-10, best of five, 2-2-1 format
No. 1 vs. No. 4/5 winner
No. 2 vs. No. 3/6 winner
League Championship Series
Oct. 11-20, best of seven, 2-3-2 format
World Series
Oct. 23-31, best of seven, 2-3-2 format