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JAY COHEN Baseball Writer.

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) hits a 3-run home run during the first inning of Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Ian Happ’s homer sets the tone for the Cubs in a playoff victory against the Brewers

October 10, 2025

With one big swing, Ian Happ sent a charge through an electric crowd of 41,770 at Wrigley Field. After a rough start to the playoffs, it was a pretty sweet moment for the longest-tenured player with the Chicago Cubs. Happ connected for a three-run homer in the first inning, sending Chicago to a 6-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that pushed their NL Division Series to a decisive Game 5. Nico Hoerner singled and Kyle Tucker walked ahead of Happ’s two-out drive to right on a 1-1 fastball from Freddy Peralta. Chicago became the first team in major league history with a first-inning homer in four straight games during one postseason.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) walks to the mound during the fifth inning of Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Matthew Boyd stars as the Cubs blank the Brewers 6-0 to send the NLDS to a deciding Game 5

October 9, 2025

Matthew Boyd pitched two-hit ball into the fifth inning, and the Chicago Cubs shut down the Milwaukee Brewers for a 6-0 victory that pushed their NL Division Series all the way to a decisive Game 5. Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch homered for Chicago, delighting a rollicking Wrigley Field crowd of 41,770. Busch went deep for the second straight game and third time in the series. The Cubs were on the brink of elimination after they dropped the first two games of the NLDS in Milwaukee. But they held on for a 4-3 victory Wednesday before making the most of a sharp performance by Boyd and four relievers in Game 4. Next up is the finale of the best-of-five series back in Milwaukee on Saturday night.

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Chicago Cubs players celebrate after Game 3 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Cubs use 4-run 1st inning to top the Brewers 4-3 and avoid NL Division Series sweep

October 8, 2025

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tiebreaking two-run single and the Chicago Cubs avoided a sweep by holding off the Milwaukee Brewers for a 4-3 victory in Game 3 of their NL Division Series. Crow-Armstrong’s two-out swing was part of a four-run first inning for Chicago — continuing a wild trend. Michael Busch kicked off the rally by becoming the first player in major league history with multiple leadoff homers in a single postseason series. The matchup of NL Central rivals is the first postseason series in which both teams scored in the first in each of the first three games. Jake Bauers rallied Milwaukee with an RBI single in the fourth and a leadoff drive in the seventh.

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Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch hirts a home run during the first inning of Game 3 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Michael Busch hits another leadoff homer for the Cubs in NL Division Series against the Brewers

October 8, 2025

Michael Busch sparked a fast start for the Chicago Cubs — again. Busch hit a leadoff homer in Chicago’s four-run first inning in Game 3 of the team’s NL Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. He became the first player in major league history with multiple leadoff homers in a single postseason series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The 27-year-old Busch drove a full-count cutter from Quinn Priester deep to right-center, tying it at 1. It was the first baseman’s team-high third homer of the postseason. Busch also hit a leadoff shot against Freddy Peralta in Chicago’s 9-3 loss in Game 1 on Saturday.

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Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson leaps over San Diego Padres' Manny Machado to make a play on a ball hit by Jackson Merrill during the sixth inning of Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Dansby Swanson leads stellar defensive performance for Cubs in NL Wild Card Series

October 2, 2025

Dansby Swanson just kept making plays for the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card Series. Grounders up the middle and in the hole. Soft liners and popups. The shortstop, a two-time Gold Glove winner, was in the right place every time. With Swanson leading the way, Chicago turned in another sharp defensive performance while eliminating San Diego with a clinching 3-1 victory on Thursday. In a three-game series that had only 11 runs, the Cubs won with their gloves more than their bats.

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The Chicago Cubs celebrate after Game 3 of a National League wild card baseball game against the San Diego Padres Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Cubs beat Padres 3-1 to win Wild Card Series, advance to NL Division Series against Brewers

October 2, 2025

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit an RBI single off a shaky Yu Darvish, and the Chicago Cubs shut down Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres for a clinching 3-1 victory in Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series on Thursday. Backed by a raucous crowd of 40,895 at Wrigley Field, Chicago used its stellar defense to advance in the postseason for the first time since 2017. Michael Busch hit a solo homer, and Jameson Taillon pitched four shutout innings before manager Craig Counsell used five relievers to close it out. Next up for Chicago is a matchup with the NL Central champion Brewers in a compelling Division Series, beginning with Game 1 on Saturday in Milwaukee.

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San Diego Padres' Manny Machado is reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of Game 2 of a National League wild card baseball game Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Machado and Miller star as the Padres beat the Cubs 3-0 in Game 2 of their NL Wild Card Series

October 1, 2025

Manny Machado hit a two-run homer, Mason Miller dominated again and the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 to send their NL Wild Card Series to a decisive third game. Jackson Merrill hit an early sacrifice fly as San Diego avoided elimination after losing 3-1 on Tuesday. Dylan Cease struck out five in 3 2/3 innings before handing the ball to his team’s hard-throwing bullpen. The finale of the best-of-three series is back at Wrigley Field on Thursday. The playoff-tested Padres are looking for a repeat of 2020, when they dropped Game 1 in the wild-card round before advancing with two straight victories against St. Louis. Machado also homered in Game 2 of that series.

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San Diego Padres' Robert Suarez and Freddy Fermin celebrate after Game 2 of a National League wild card baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Mason Miller reaches 104.5 mph as San Diego’s bullpen shuts down the Cubs in Game 2 victory

October 1, 2025

Mason Miller’s last two pitches to Seiya Suzuki in the seventh inning were clocked at 102.1 and 102.7 mph. Suzuki swung and missed at the last one for strike three. It turns out Miller was only warming up. The 6-foot-5 right-hander played a starring role in a dominant performance by San Diego’s bullpen in a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs, sending their NL Wild Card Series to a decisive third game. Miller came in after Adrian Morejon pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings in relief of Dylan Cease. After fanning Suzuki, he reached 104.5 mph on a called third strike to Carson Kelly that was the fastest pitch in the postseason since Statcast started tracking in 2008.

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Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki- hits a home run during the fifth inning of Game 1 of a National League wild card baseball game against the San Diego Padres Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Suzuki and Kelly hit back-to-back homers as the Cubs top the Padres 3-1 in playoff opener

September 30, 2025

Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back homers, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 in Game 1 of their NL Wild Card Series. Chicago also got a perfect performance from its bullpen in the franchise’s first playoff win since the 2017 National League Championship Series. The Cubs were swept by Miami in the wild-card round in 2020 during their last postseason appearance. Game 2 of the best-of-three series is back at Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon. The Padres finished with four hits in the opener.

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Cleveland Guardians' Carlos Santana (41) scores during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Chicago Cubs add 2 more veteran players in 1B Carlos Santana and RHP Aaron Civale

September 1, 2025

First baseman Carlos Santana has joined the Chicago Cubs after signing a one-year contract. The Cubs also added Aaron Civale to their roster one day after they claimed the veteran right-hander off waivers from the White Sox. Outfielder Kevin Alcántara was recalled from Triple-A Iowa, and outfielder Owen Caissie was sent down. With Pete Crow-Armstrong slumping at the plate, Alcántara could be used in center field against left-handed pitching. Civale jumped right in, pitching three scoreless innings in a wild 7-6 victory over Atlanta. Santana struck out as a pinch hitter in the ninth and finished the game at first base.

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Chicago Cubs' Carson Kelly, left, is congratulated by third base coach Quintin Berry, right, after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Chicago, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Carson Kelly delivers the Cubs a wild 7-6 victory over the Braves

September 1, 2025

Carson Kelly hit a tying two-run homer in the eighth inning and a game-ending single in the 10th, sending the Chicago Cubs to a wild 7-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Ian Happ had three hits for Chicago, including his 19th homer. Dansby Swanson drove in two runs, and Matt Shaw had a run-scoring double. Seiya Suzuki began the Cubs’ 10th on second as the automatic runner. Suzuki advanced on Nico Hoerner’s one-out grounder to second before Kelly hit a liner into the corner in left off John Brebbia. Andrew Kittredge worked a perfect 10th for the win.

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Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong runs to first base after hitting a single against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

MLB hitters swinging at first pitches at highest rate since 1988

August 29, 2025

Pete Crow-Armstrong is ready to go. Same goes for Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos. Ceddanne Rafaela, too. They are the kings of swinging at the first pitch — and they have some company. Through Thursday’s games, the MLB-wide swing percentage on first pitches this year was 32.1%, according to Sportradar. That is the same number as last year, and an increase from 31% in both 2022 and 2023. While there are some missing pitches in the data before the 2000 season, the percentage for each of the last two years is the highest such number since it was 32.6% in 1988.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws against the Baltimore Orioles during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

MLB contenders watch for fatigue as some starters experience an increased workload

August 5, 2025

At age 34, Matthew Boyd is going back to what was once familiar territory for the left-hander. He has logged 130 2/3 innings so far in his first season with the Cubs, more than he totaled in the previous two years combined. Boyd’s workload is worth watching as the Cubs fight for the NL Central title. He is among a group of pitchers going through a jump in innings in the middle of a playoff race. The days of predetermined innings limits, especially when it comes to young prospects, aren’t going away anytime soon. But more organizations appear to be going with a case-by-case approach.

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Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jhoan Duran throws a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Phillies acquire hard-throwing closer Jhoan Duran in trade with Twins

July 30, 2025

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired Jhoan Duran, trading two top prospects to the Minnesota Twins for the hard-throwing closer. Duran has 16 saves and a 2.01 ERA in 49 appearances this season, striking out 53 in 49 1/3 innings. Catcher Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel were shipped off to Minnesota in the deal. Philadelphia is competing with the New York Mets for the NL East title. The Phillies won the division last year before they were eliminated by the Mets in their NL Division Series.

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Chicago White Sox's Austin Slater runs after hitting a one-run single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Chicago, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Yankees bolster outfield, acquire veteran Austin Slater from the White Sox

July 30, 2025

Austin Slater is heading to the New York Yankees, giving them another right-handed bat they can plug into a part-time role down the stretch. The active Yankees have acquired the veteran outfielder from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league pitching prospect Gage Ziehl. New York had a pressing need to bolster its outfield depth with star slugger Aaron Judge sidelined by a flexor strain in his right elbow. The 32-year-old Slater hit .236 with five home runs and 11 RBIs in 51 games with the White Sox this season. The Yankees will be his fifth team in just over a year.

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FILE - Chicago Cubs ' Ryne Sandberg slugs a triple during Wednesday, Aug. 29, 1984 game against the Cincinnati Reds in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jon Swart,File)

Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg has died after battling cancer

July 28, 2025

Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65. Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free. But he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while “looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.”

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Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper hits a two-run double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred confronted by Bryce Harper during meeting, AP source says

July 28, 2025

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper had a spirited exchange during a question-and-answer session between the commissioner and the team, according to a person with direct knowledge of the conversation. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. Phillies slugger Nick Castellanos previously confirmed some details from the meeting in interviews with The Bandwagon and ESPN. Manfred met with the Phillies and Red Sox during their series last week in Philadelphia. The session with the Phillies lasted more than an hour.

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Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh watches his two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Cal Raleigh caps big series for Seattle with major league-leading 31st homer

June 22, 2025

There is no stopping Cal Raleigh at the moment. Raleigh has a major league-leading 31 homers after he helped the Seattle Mariners take two of three against the Chicago Cubs over the weekend. The switch hitter went deep four times and drove in six runs in the series. Raleigh had two hits, walked twice and scored three runs in Seattle’s 14-6 victory in the finale. He is batting .327 with 16 homers and 34 RBIs in his last 29 games.

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Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) watches from the dugout railing before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Wade Miley becomes a free agent after opting out of his minor league deal with the Reds

June 1, 2025

Wade Miley has opted out of his minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds, making the veteran left-hander a free agent. The 38-year-old Miley is coming back from Tommy John surgery. He went 1-2 with an 8.84 ERA in seven starts at Triple-A Louisville this season. Cincinnati had until Sunday to make a decision on Miley, who is looking for a starting opportunity. The Reds could have brought him up and put him in their bullpen. Reds manager Terry Francona praised president of baseball operations Nick Krall for giving Miley a chance to look around.

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Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker (30) runs the bases to score on a double from designated hitter Seiya Suzuki (27) during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Cubs OF Kyle Tucker leaves win over Reds with a jammed finger

June 1, 2025

The Chicago Cubs are off on Monday, and Kyle Tucker is hoping that will be enough rest for his jammed right ring finger. Tucker got hurt on an awkward slide during Chicago’s 7-3 victory over Cincinnati in the finale of their weekend series. He was replaced by Vidal Bruján in right field before the Reds batted in the fifth inning. Tucker also had a cut on his nose after he was caught stealing second in the first. Tucker wasn’t sure exactly what happened, but he said he thought his helmet hit his nose and his hand kind of got caught underneath him.

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Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch, right, high fives Dansby Swanson after they score on Busch's two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Michael Busch homers as the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-3

June 1, 2025

Michael Busch homered and drove in three runs, helping Jameson Taillon and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-3. Pete Crow-Armstrong had three hits, scored three times and swiped two bases as Chicago closed out a 5-1 homestand. Dansby Swanson had a run-scoring double. The Cubs improved to 37-22, moving a season-high 15 games above .500. The NL Central leaders have won 15 of 20 overall. Taillon (5-3) pitched 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball in his third consecutive win. Elly De La Cruz hit a two-run homer for Cincinnati, which dropped two of three against Chicago for the second straight weekend.

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