The Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies both sit comfortably in the National League wild card race, holding a five-game cushion over the next closest team in the standings. Both franchises spent aggressively at the deadline, and both are being rewarded with September baseball that already feels like a warm-up for October.
The Cubs have transformed themselves under second-year manager Craig Counsell. Chicago went 87-75 in 2025 and looked like it would need another year to break through, but a torrid summer has vaulted them past 90 wins with three weeks left in the season.
Kyle Tucker is the reason. The offseason trade that sent multiple prospects to Houston has paid off in a big way, with Tucker hitting .308 with 32 home runs and 108 RBI heading into September. He is a legitimate MVP candidate, though Shohei Ohtani still has the inside track.
The rotation has been solid across the board. Shota Imanaga has followed up his stellar rookie year with an even better sophomore campaign. Justin Steele is healthy after missing chunks of last season. Cade Horton, the top prospect who arrived in the middle of last year, has become a legitimate mid-rotation starter.
The Phillies are chasing something bigger. Philadelphia has been to the postseason four straight years and has one championship-caliber run in a row without breaking through. This roster is older and more expensive, and the sense of urgency in the clubhouse is palpable.
Zack Wheeler was traded to San Diego at the deadline in the shocking front office decision of the summer. The Phillies used that money to add Dylan Cease from the Chicago White Sox and to lock down closer Devin Williams via a separate deadline deal. The rotation still features Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, and Cristopher Sanchez.
Bryce Harper is having a monster year. Trea Turner has bounced back after a slow start. Kyle Schwarber continues to hit 40 home runs and strike out 200 times. Alec Bohm has been steady at third base. The lineup is deep, and the bullpen is finally reliable.
The Phillies’ concern is playoff experience turning into playoff fatigue. Rob Thomson has managed this group through multiple heartbreaking exits, and every 2025 memory feels like a scar rather than a lesson. The clubhouse needs to prove it can turn 96 regular season wins into a real championship run.
Chicago is playing with house money. The Cubs’ fan base has waited long enough that a competitive wild card round would already feel like a win. Philadelphia is playing under a mountain of expectations, and only a World Series appearance closes out this era on good terms.
The wild card round begins September 29. Chicago and Philadelphia are on a collision course to meet in a Division Series if both hold serve. Baseball fans in both cities should start booking travel now.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
