The Cubs can stack up with almost anybody on the position-player side. Pete Crow-Armstrong gives them the kind of centerpiece every contender wants, and Chicago has plenty of star defenders and sluggers around him.
The concern sits elsewhere, and it’s the kind of concern that can swallow a playoff series whole. ESPN’s David Schoenfield zeroed in on the ninth inning as the place where the Cubs could get exposed in the 2026 postseason.
“Chicago Cubs. Fatal flaw: The ninth inning (Jacob Webb leads the club with nine saves),” Schoenfield writes. “It doesn't feel good heading into the postseason and wondering who is going to get the ball in the ninth inning.”
That uncertainty is the problem. Chicago may not have a true closer unless somebody claims the job over the next few weeks.
Ryan Zeferjahn was at least in the conversation, but he has been shaky since coming over from the Los Angeles Angels. Daniel Palencia has also had a rough stretch since returning from the injured list, and the rest of the bullpen options don’t exactly inspire confidence.
One possibility would be to lean on Edward Cabrera or another starter in the late innings. But based on where things stand now, the closer role looks like a major issue for this group.
That matters even more because Chicago’s first matchup is currently projected to be against the Philadelphia Phillies. And the Phillies have already shown they can flip games late, including one comeback in which they were down 4-0 with two outs and two strikes before pulling out a 6-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cubs can lean on elite offense and defense, but if the pitching staff remains shaky and the ninth inning stays unsettled, that could be enough to cut a postseason run short.
In Other News...
Cubs Fans Have One More Reason To Love Their Core Right Now
The Cubs have spent the past stretch making a clear point about where theyre headed, and Pete Crow-Armstrong is now part of that long-term picture after signing a six-year, $115 million extension. It comes on the heels of the club locking in Nico Hoerner on a six-year, $135 million deal and adding Alex Bregman in free agency, a set of moves that gives Chicago a legitimate core to build around for years rather than months.
For a fan base that has waited to see a plan sharpen into something concrete, the timing matters almost as much as the money. Chicago has secured its own foundation, while elsewhere in the division theres still uncertainty around top talent and long-range commitment, which only adds to the sense that the Cubs are trying to get ahead of the usual roster churn before it arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Crow-Armstrongs MVP Rise Started With One Big Change
Pete Crow-Armstrongs breakout season has given the Cubs exactly the kind of star turn they have spent years hoping to see, and the latest surge only added to the sense that something bigger is unfolding. In a recent game, he launched two home runs and added a triple, pushing his OPS to .956 and layering more milestones onto a year already packed with them. He now owns the Cubs record for most single-season home runs by a left-handed hitter and has tied Ernie Banks for the most homers by a Cub before age 25 with 44.
Behind the power, though, there has been a quieter evolution that helps explain why this has looked sustainable rather than fleeting. Hitting coach Dustin Kelly has pointed to better plate discipline, more selective aggression and Crow-Armstrongs ability to do damage across the strike zone as the foundation of the jump. For the Cubs, the appeal is obvious: this is not just a hot streak from a young player, but a version of him that seems built to keep forcing pitchers into tough choices. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Face A Justin Steele Decision That Could Shape October
Justin Steeles rehab path has taken another encouraging step, and for a Cubs club still sorting out the back end of its staff, the timing matters. After left elbow surgery, Steele has worked through minor league starts and logged his best outing yet, enough to put his status back into the conversation as Chicago pushes deeper into the season.
The question now is whether the Cubs see enough to bring him back in a bullpen role for the postseason chase or decide the safer move is to keep waiting. The organization already opted to shut down Shelby Miller in a similar situation, which makes Steeles next turn feel especially important as the front office weighs short-term help against long-term caution. [Read more 🡒]