The Cubs are in the playoffs, and now the roster decisions shift into a different gear. Jed Hoyer, Craig Counsell, and the rest of the front office have to put the postseason group together, with the NL Wild Card series right around the corner.
Chicago would obviously prefer to have a healthy Cade Horton and Justin Steele in the rotation. That isn’t the reality, though the Cubs do head into October healthier than they have at any other point this season. Steele could still show up this weekend, but the way Hoyer has sounded over the past week suggests he won’t be asked to handle any meaningful role.
Even with the Cubs back in the postseason last year and much of the roster intact, there are still a few players who are about to get their first crack at playoff baseball.
Pedro Ramirez is one of them. If Alex Bregman’s status keeps him out of the field and into the DH spot, Ramirez could be the starting third baseman on Tuesday. He handled most of the starts there last week while Bregman was out.
Ryan Zeferjahn is another newcomer to the stage, and his role could be especially important. The Cubs brought him in hoping he could help in the later innings once the games get tight.
That deal also came with long-term control through the 2031 season. Zeferjahn got off to a rough start in Chicago, but he has been much sharper in September and has worked his way into Craig Counsell’s circle of trust.
Ryan Rolison has carved out a real niche as the Cubs’ answer against left-handed hitters. That wasn’t the original plan, especially with Caleb Thielbar and Hoby Milner on the Opening Day roster, but Rolison has turned into a useful find for Counsell this season.
Javier Assad rounds out the group. His year has had its ups and downs, and he’s also been one of the few pitchers with minor-league options left on the roster. But with the roster maneuvering done and Edward Cabrera likely pitching himself out of the playoff picture, Assad should have a bullpen role in October.
In Other News...
Boog Sciambis New Job Should Ease One Cubs Fan Fear
Jon Boog Sciambi is adding a new television assignment this season, joining select Minnesota Timberwolves broadcasts in a side role while still keeping his place as the Cubs play-by-play voice. For Cubs fans who have grown accustomed to hearing him on the North Side, the bigger takeaway is that this is not a sign of an impending change at Wrigley Field, but rather another stop for a broadcaster whose range has kept expanding.
Meghan Montemurro reported that Sciambi and the rest of the Cubs TV broadcast team recently had their contracts extended through 2028, which should calm any worry that the extra work is a precursor to a departure. There is still a little scheduling wrinkle ahead, though, with Alex Cohen expected to handle some Cubs telecasts during potential conflicts in 2027, so the booth picture is secure for now but not entirely without movement. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Steele Update Just Shifted The Cubs' Bigger Pitching Picture
Braxton Garrett is back with the Cubs as they head into their final regular-season game, while Gavin Hollowell was optioned to the Arizona Complex League in a roster move that underscored how quickly the club is shifting from the present to the future. The bigger news, though, is what it says about the pitching picture around Justin Steele, whose return has been pushed off as the team continues to sort out arms on the roster.
Chicago has also designated Antoine Kelly for assignment as it keeps reworking the staff with an eye on next season rather than squeezing in a late cameo. The Cubs are clearly choosing caution with Steele, prioritizing his health and readiness for 2027 over any rushed finish this year, which leaves the organization focused on where he fits once the calendar turns again. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Crow-Armstrong Is Chasing A Cubs MVP First
Pete Crow-Armstrong has spent the 2026 season turning himself into the kind of all-around force the Cubs have rarely had in their history. With a 10.7 fWAR and elite marks across the offensive and base-running side, he has put himself in the same conversation as some of the franchises biggest seasons, while also standing out in a National League race packed with star power.
For Cubs fans, the more interesting part may be where this could lead. The club has had MVP winners before, but Crow-Armstrong is chasing something different now: a first for this version of the franchise, and the kind of honor that would put his season in a distinctly new class. The numbers have already made the case that he belongs among the leagues best, and the rest of the season is about whether the award voters follow the same trail. [Read more 🡒]