Hello, Bleacher Nation.
I wish I had better news to report, but Michael had the details earlier this morning on the Cubs heading west after today’s (now) meaningless Game 162 to face the Padres in the Wild Card round.
- As Michael points out, and as we discussed in yesterday’s bullet points, the circumstances are far from ideal heading into the playoffs, but it is what it is. Try flipping the switch with this veteran team that has plenty of postseason experience and help from baseball’s best-positioned player, and see where the cards fall.
- The Cubs recently announced that Shota Imanaga will start today’s game. I would imagine that Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Aaron Civale, Caleb Thielbar and Gavin Hollowell would be the next most likely candidates to also find work.
- A few more at-bats for healer Alex Bregman seems like the right idea today, but I would avoid any further risk and have him out after a second plate appearance. PCA will be in all 162 games if he starts today, which I would expect, but I would also like to get him out early.
- It’s matches like today that make me want to go back to the old September rules. There would be at least some intrigue in watching a primarily Iowa Cubs roster and pitching staff audition at the big league level before the end of their 2026 seasons.
- As for the rematch with San Diego, these two teams had rather opposite Septembers, with the Padres going 17-6 and the Cubs 10-13. The Padres are also much better at home this season, at 50-30. They are led offensively by the same guys as last season: Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis and Jackson Merrill. A year ago in this series, Machado went 1 for 10 with a homer, two RBIs and two walks. Tatis went 1 for 12 with a walk, and Merrill finished 3 for 9 with a walk and an RBI. It was a low scoring series, with the Cubs winning the first game 3-1. Lose game 2, 3-0. And clinch with a 3-1 victory in Game 3. It doesn’t seem like that’s likely to be the case this time around with the Cubs’ pitching woes and San Diego’s staff having no starter with an ERA below 4 besides (presumed Game 1 starter) Michael King.
- The Friars have struggled against left-handed pitchers this season, which makes me think: Matthew Boyd starts Game 1, Clay Holmes starts Game 2, and David Peterson starts Game 3? If Kevin Gausman’s shoulder isn’t right, I don’t want him on the mound. If Gausman’s ERA was in the low 3s range, it might be a different story, but that’s not the case.
- The Cubs made a roster move Saturday, claiming former Reds top-15 prospect Julian Aguiar. Aguiar worked this season after Tommy John surgery in 2025, and (go figure, because he was DFA) the results haven’t been there. However, he was the Reds’ minor league pitcher of the year in 2023 and has two minor league options remaining after this season. Seems like a guy worth taking a chance on, especially with the number of pitchers the Cubs have who will become free agents after the season.
- No surprises here. PCA top 3 best-selling jerseys this season.
- The PCA Hall of Fame 40/40 Batting Gloves.
- Justin Verlander rushed back from rehab to get one last start yesterday, and it was something straight out of a movie. Thanks to Jacob for the appropriate caption in his tweet.
- There was also this graphic of Verlander’s departure yesterday. And while everyone is laughing about Konnor Griffin at minus nine months, I’m scratching the gray hairs on my head thinking that Javier Baez is the “old guy” among these two lineups.
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