Cubs return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020

The ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field are looking better than ever and so are the Chicago Cubs. After qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2020, Cubs fans around the country are celebrating having clinched the top Wild Card spot in the National League. The Chicago Cubs are most known for their 108-year drought, dubbed “the Curse of the Billy Goat”. True life-long fans know the lore behind the infamous curse, which was finally broken with their historic World Series win in 2016. In my opinion, much of their 2016 season success can be attributed to their stacked roster, including notable players like Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baéz, Kris Bryant and Jason Heyward. Since then, the Cubs have been moderately good during the regular season but without much success in the postseason.

Now, nearly a decade later, the 2025 season has been a great year for the Cubs. They finished the regular season with a 92-70 record, the second highest ranked team in the National League Central division. The Brewers, ranked first in the Central division, had an incredible season as well, ending with a 97-65 record. Three Chicago Cubs players were selected for the 2025 All-Star Game: outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker, and pitcher Matthew Boyd.

I have been listening to my dad and grandpa talking about the Cubs my whole life and, as a generational fan, here are my 2025 Cubs All-Stars: Crow-Armstrong, affectionately nicknamed PCA, is having an incredible season. The 23-year-old recently joined icon Sammy Sosa in the 30-30 club (30 home runs and 30 steals), which is a major accomplishment. His high-caliber all around play has made him an MVP candidate, although he is unlikely to win at this point in the season. Outfielder Seiya Suzuki has one of the league’s highest number of runs batted in, with an astounding 103 RBIs as of the Cubs’ Sept. 28 game. Most recently, Suzuki hit a grand slam in last Friday’s game against the Cardinals, bringing his home run count to 32 for the season. Traded from Houston this year, Kyle Tucker has been an asset to the Cubs in more ways than one. The 2022 Golden Glove winner also has an eye for the strike zone, with a high percentage of walks and favorable hitting rates.

Rookie pitcher Cade Horton is making big waves in his debut season; he is a top contender for Rookie of the Year award. Unfortunately, last Saturday, it was announced that Horton had a cracked rib and would be out for a minimum of 15 days. This is a devastating blow for the Cubs, as his precise pitching could make all the difference in their upcoming postseason games. For our Minnesotan readers, Inver Grove Heights native Michael Busch has proven himself to be an elite hitter. He is the leadoff batter for the Cubs, and his two homeruns in the Sept. 27 game against the Cardinals cushioned the Cubs enough to land them a home field advantage going into the Wild Card series. Last but certainly not least is Shota Imanaga, the starting pitcher for the Cubs. His “invisible” four-seam fastballs are arguably one of the best pitches in the MLB, due to his low release angle and deceptive speed. He has the ability to throw five pitch variants and is easily outperforming many pitchers in the league.

Though the Chicago Cubs have maintained a winning record throughout the regular season, the real challenges lie ahead. They are set to play the San Diego Padres (90-72) in the Wild Card Series on Sept. 30-Oct. 2, and the winner will go on to play the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers. The Padres and Cubs last played in April, splitting their six game series with three wins and three losses, so it will be a seemingly even match. In the Tuesday game, the Cubs won 3-1. In Wednesday’s game, the Cubs lost 3-0. They will play their final game against the Padres on Thursday to determine who moves forward. Regardless of the outcome, the Cubs have had an extraordinary season, and our loyal Chicago pride will persevere. Go Cubs!