Cubs pitching probables vs. Cardinals: Friday -- Colin Rea Saturday -- Jameson Taillon Sunday -- TBA

Colin Rea will start for Cubs tomorrow vs. Cardinals

Cubs lose to the Mets 8-5. Cubs couldn't dig out of a 6-0 hole. Shota Imanaga allowed 8 ER and 9 H in 5 2/3 innings. Three more regular-season games left vs. Cardinals as Cubs try to lock down top Wild Card spot over San Diego. Their magic number remains at 2.

This is the second time this series and 63rd time in their careers that identical twins Tyler and Taylor Rogers have pitched in the same game It will NEVER stop being incredibly cool Baseball is the BEST

Seiya Suzuki's 5th multi-homer game of the year and first since June 22 cuts the Mets' lead to 8-5 in the 6th. Entering tonight, Suzuki had hit 1 home run in his last 54 games (225 plate appearances). Cubs trying to dig out of Imanaga allowing 8 runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Horton is adamant he can pitch, Counsell said, but Cubs want to make sure they have all info before that happens It’s still unclear if this is a rib cage area issue and/or his back. Cubs will have another physician look at Horton’s MRI Counsell said Horton scheduled to throw tomorrow is good sign

Regarding Cade Horton’s MRI, there is an area of concern in his ribs that Counseel said Cubs are “going to continue to get more information on it & see where that leads us.” Counsell added that right now Horton is a go for the playoffs as they gather info in coming days. Horton will throw tomorrow.

Counsell said postgame that Horton's MRI results came in right before the game so they're talking to the doctors now and he will have more information tomorrow.

Cubs beat the Mets 10-3 tonight and their magic number to clinch the top NL wild card spot is down to 2.

Cubs have activated Daniel Palencia from the IL and optioned Jordan Wicks to the Arizona complex.

Goal is for Kyle Tucker to be in Cubs lineup Friday and DH at least initially. Counsell will encourage him run at 80-90% in certain spots. Counsell: “I don't think the symptoms are going to be gone, but he's in a place where he agrees we've got to go. We’ve got to see what it feels like to play.”

Owen Caissie is still experiencing concussion symptoms and has not been progressing. Although he’s been able to increase some activity, Counsell said Caissie hasn’t been symptom free which means having to stop the activity until it resolves. Caissie sustained the concussion Sept. 13.

Cade Horton had MRI on his back/rib cage area today after leaving last night’s start & was sore this morning. His symptoms first appeared after he coughing from being sick following start in PIT. Counsell: “We want to make sure as we go forward to the next step we know that there's nothing wrong.”

Matt Shaw explained his decision today to miss Cubs game Sunday to attend Charlie Kirk's memorial. "My connection with Charlie was through our faith, that’s something that drives me every day. ... Whatever backlash comes is OK." www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/23/c...

Shaw said he talked to Counsell, Hoyer and consulted 4-5 Cubs veterans because he was in turmoil about going. "I made sure everybody I talked to I had their support, that they knew why I was going, that I wasn't leaving just to leave, that it was something that was really important to my faith."

Matt Shaw just spoke on decision to miss Cubs game Sunday to attend Charlie Kirk's memorial in AZ. He was invited by Kirk's wife Erika. Shaw said they met in offseason while living in same apt complex, they bonded over faith & Kirk being big Cubs fan. Shaw said Kirk would text him after every game.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw is expected to be back with the team Tuesday after missing Sunday’s game to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial in Arizona. 📝 @mmontemurro.bsky.social

Matt Shaw was not with the Cubs today because he was attending the funeral of a friend, Counsell said postgame.

Cubs lose to Reds 1-0 and get swept in four-game series. Their loss means the Brewers clinch NL Central title. Cubs had not lost more than 3 games in a row entire season until now. Their last losing streak of at least 4 games came in June 2024. Their lead over SD for top WC spot down to 3 games

First pitch for Cubs-Reds at 1:50 p.m. CT

Cubs-Reds will not start on time due to weather in the area.

After “sickening” 53-point loss to Indiana, Illini say they need to “eat this shit sandwich and keep moving.” On the night the Illinois hype crashed back down to earth against a Hoosiers team that looks like a repeat CFP contender: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/21/i...

Kyle Tucker will fly back to Chicago on Monday's off day. Counsell doesn't expect him in lineup Tuesday. He'll be assessed to see where he's at. As of today he still hasn't attempted to run, main issue with his calf strain. Counsell: "We've got to figure out when & if he's going to be available."

Miguel Amaya (ankle) will head to AZ after AAA season ends today. He's expected to join Cubs next weekend but unclear if he'll come off IL/be on WC roster. Daniel Palencia felt good in last night's rehab outing. He'll return to Chicago & Cubs will figure out plan. He's eligible to come off IL Tues.

I'm glad I haven't been able to watch any of Illinois' awfulness at Indiana tonight 🤢 I had low expectations but yeesh.

Cubs lose to the Reds 6-3 and will look to avoid a four-game sweep tomorrow.

Reese McGuire goes deep to tie game in 5th. That's his 9th homer in 41 games/134 PAs McGuire had combined to hit 9 HR in his 5 seasons spanning 311 games/900 PAs It'll be interesting to see whether Cubs opt to carry 3 catchers in playoffs or who they take between McGuire & Amaya, if fully healthy

Michael Busch is only the 5th first baseman* in Cubs history to hit 30+ homers in a season. The others: Anthony Rizzo (four times), Derrek Lee (three times), Fred McGriff (once) and Ernie Banks (twice). *at least 51% of games played at the position

With his home run tonight, Michael Busch is the first Cub to have a 30-homer season since Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber in 2019. He's the first Cubs first baseman to reach that mark since Anthony Rizzo slugged 32 in 2017.

Daniel Palencia (right shoulder strain) will pitch on rehab assignment tonight with Triple-A Iowa. He is eligible to come off the IL Tuesday. Ryan Brasier (left groin strain) threw at Iowa last night. It went well and he'll rejoin Cubs in Chicago then they'll figure out next steps, Counsell said.

After playing the last three days, Seiya Suzuki is not in the lineup tonight as Cubs make sure he's fully recovered/past the illness that kept him out of the lineup for 5 games and zapped his energy.

Cubs have optioned reliever Porter Hodge to Triple A. Left-hander Jordan Wicks has been recalled.

With the White Sox beating the Padres tonight, the Cubs' magic number is down to 4 to clinch the top Wild Card spot and host the series vs. the 5-seed, currently San Diego, at Wrigley Field.

Cubs lose to the Reds 7-4. Imanaga allowed 4 runs in 5 innings. The Reds tagged Hodge for 3 runs in the 6th to break the tie. Swanson (HR), Happ (RBI 2B) and Shaw (2-run HR) provided the offense for Cubs (88-66), who outhit Reds in loss. Cubs were 69-13 entering tonight when outhitting opponent

Among MLB pitchers who've allowed 29+ homers, 2 have fewer innings than Imanaga (139 IP) The list: Nats' Irvin -- 35 homers in 168.2 IP Reds' Littrell -- 34 in 177 IP Twins' Ober -- 30 in 135.1 IP Dbacks' Gallen -- 29 in 180.2 IP Tigers' Paddack -- 29 in 153.1 IP Padres' Sears -- 29 in 130 IP

Shota Imanaga is done after 5 innings. He allowed 4 runs and 4 hits, including 3 solo homers. He couldn't hold multiple leads. Imanaga is up to 29 home runs allowed, tied for 5th most in MLB. Cubs-Reds tied at 4.

Dansby Swanson ties the game in the 2nd with his solo homer to center field. That's his 23rd of the year, Swanson's most in a single season as a Cub.

Owen Caissie is still experiencing concussion symptoms, which potentially puts the rest of the regular season in jeopardy, Counsell said. Cubs hoped to be able to have Caissie join them in Cincy with him being eligible to come off the concussion IL on Sunday but that won’t be happening.

The Cubs know the dynamic offensive force Seiya Suzuki can be in the heart of the lineup. But the last 2 months, they haven't often seen the version that put up 25 HRs and 77 RBIs in the 1st half. "The biggest thing is just regaining that (confidence) and then bringing that into the postseason."

Sept. 19 dispatch from outside the Broadview ICE holding building. With Rebecca Johnson. Photos by Stacey Wescott and Dominic DiPalermo www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/19/t...

With his double tonight, Seiya Suzuki's 209 career extra-base hits are the 2nd most by a Cubs player through their first 4 career seasons since 1900 behind Kris Bryant (254).

Cubs lose to the Reds 1-0. They had just three reach base against Hunter Greene, who threw a complete game. Seiya Suzuki's 2B in the 7th was their lone hit. Colin Rea struck out a career-high 11 batters in 7 innings. Time of game: 1 hour, 59 minutes

Rea's 19 whiffs tonight are also a career high and tied for the most by a Cubs pitcher this season. The others: Taillon on April 2, Horton on July 9 and Imanaga on Sept. 14.

Great outing by Colin Rea, who has struck out a career-high 11 batters. It's the first double-digit strikeout game of his big-league career. Rea has allowed 1 run, 4 hits and no walks in 7 innings against the Reds.

Seiya Suzuki's two-out 2B in the 7th ends Hunter Greene's no-hitter. Cubs trail the Reds 1-0.

Pete Crow-Armstrong's 105-mph liner off bat slightly deflected off Reds 1B Spencer Steer's mitt & hit Moisés Ballesteros in head, ricocheting off his helmet. Ballesteros took the brunt of it. Ballesteros was thrown out at 2B to end 5th. A trainer met him & walked him off but he appears OK in dugout

The last out fittingly found Ian Happ. The Cubs' longest-tenured player became emotional as he caught the fly ball that sealed a playoff spot. "The biggest thing is we earned this. We deserve this, and the work's not over." 📝 @mmontemurro.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/17/c...

🧵 A giddy Pete Crow-Armstrong, with ski goggles and eye black smeared across his face, tried to describe how he had envisioned the Cubs' postgame celebration. "I didn't think I'd be so cold, like, my feet are cold and it's making my upper body cold." www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/18/c...

Cubs starters at Cincinnati: Thursday — RHP Colin Rea Friday — LHP Shota Imanaga Saturday — RHP Javier Assad Sunday — RHP Jameson Taillon

Scenes from the Cubs’ celebratory postgame clubhouse: