Full Breakdown
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 40-40 Milestone Powers the Cubs into the 2026 Playoffs
By Drooid · · How we work
The clinching victory
On September 24, 2026, the Chicago Cubs secured a National League wild-card berth with a 2–1 win over the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. The win, the Cubs’ 88th of the season, locked the team into the postseason for a second straight year—the first back-to-back stretch since the 2015-18 run. The victory also gave the Cubs a tiebreaker advantage over the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies for the wild-card seeding.
Background and season context
Chicago entered the final weeks of the season after a roller-coaster campaign marked by lengthy injury spells among pitchers and a rotation that relied heavily on left-handers Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga. Despite those setbacks, the Cubs posted one of the league’s most potent offenses, leading Major League Baseball in runs, home runs, total bases and Wins Above Replacement (WAR). The team’s defensive performance was also historic, posting the highest outs-above-average (OAA) total ever recorded since the metric began in 2016.
Data and statistics
- Pete Crow-Armstrong: 45 home runs (tied for MLB lead), 40 stolen bases, .280/.374/.577 slash line, 107 RBI, 119 runs, 9.8 WAR (MLB-leading).
- League leaders: Crow-Armstrong also tops the majors in slugging, OPS and OPS+.
- 40-40 club: He becomes the seventh player in MLB history to reach at least 40 homers and 40 steals in a single season, joining Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Alfonso Soriano (2006), Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023) and Shohei Ohtani (2024).
- Cubs record: 88–71 after the win, securing one of the NL’s three wild-card spots.
Official statements & responses
Manager Craig Counsell highlighted the team’s resilience, saying the clubhouse’s collective effort and the medical staff’s support were essential to navigating a season that was marked by injuries and ups-and-downs.
On-the-ground reports
Fans at Wrigley Field erupted when Crow-Armstrong stole his 40th base, chanting “MVP” as the videoboard displayed the historic moment. The celebration continued with champagne and beer showers throughout the clubhouse, underscoring the rarity of the feat for a Cubs player.
Conflicting reports & gaps
Sources differ on the precise wild-card seeding: some outlets state the Cubs will host the Wild-Card Series if tiebreakers hold, while others note the seeding remains “up for debate” pending the outcomes of other teams’ final games. No definitive schedule has been released.
Verbatim quotes
- “That's how I've framed everything this year,” — Pete Crow-Armstrong
- “When you put challenges in front of really talented players, it can be a good thing for them,” — Craig Counsell, cubs manager
- “I'm part of something bigger than me,” — Pete Crow-Armstrong
- “We love you, we appreciate you and we respect the work you guys do for us every single day,” — Craig Counsell, cubs manager
- “I didn’t get to do this for the first eight years of my career,” — Matthew Boyd
What’s next
The Cubs will travel to Boston for a split doubleheader at Fenway Park, the first two games of the postseason. The outcomes of those contests will determine whether Chicago hosts a Wild-Card Series or continues the road stretch. The team’s focus remains on extending its playoff run while managing the health of key contributors.