It’s been a while. The Chicago Cubs have officially clinched a playoff berth for the first time since the shortened, 60-game regular season in 2020, sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday with an 8-4 win.
The offense jumped on Pirates’ starter Johan Oviedo, scoring four runs in the first inning as Ian Happ and Moises Ballesteros hit back-to-back home runs. Veteran lefty Matthew Boyd struggled for the Cubs, exiting after allowing four runs on seven hits in only three innings of work. However, the bullpen once again stepped up and shut down the Pirates the rest of the way, giving the offense a chance to take the lead and add on late in the game.
Thanks to 2018’s Game 163 against the Milwaukee Brewers and then the Wild Card Game happening immediately after the Cubs haven’t really gotten to celebrate a playoff berth since winning the division way back in 2017. The sell off happened in 2021 and after two straight 83-win seasons, the Cubs are back in the postseason.
So fitting that Ian Happ, who is the only player remaining from that 2017 team, caught the final out on Wednesday to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
As of now the Cubs technically have a chance at the division, but they’re still 4.5 games behind the Brewers with 10 games left. Pretty much have to win out to catch them. However, the Cubs do have home field advantage to play for in the Wild Card Series. With 88 wins the Cubs are 5.5 games up on the San Diego Padres for the No. 1 Wild Card spot.
