No obvious answers for Cubs after their bullpen implodes again in Milwaukee

With the playoffs fast approaching, the Cubs are running out of time to fix their bullpen. The available relief options are also limited in the middle of September. What’s the current mood in the clubhouse? How did it get to this point? And who might be able to help with these issues? The Athletic’…

With the National League Central race all but over, how will the Cubs respond?

Another tough loss in Milwaukee spotlighted the gap in the division as well as the manager’s decisions. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain what Craig Counsell was thinking and where the Cubs go from here. Within the next three weeks, the Cubs have to figure out their bullpen, …

What we’re hearing: How the Cubs are lined up for the stretch run

With three weeks remaining in the regular season, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney assess where the Cubs stand on Labor Day, and how they would match up against the first-place Brewers in a potential playoff rematch. The Athletic beat writers also provide information on the state of the pitching s…

The Cubs are in trouble if they can’t fix this bullpen

Who would you trust to pitch the late innings of a big game at Wrigley Field? That’s the dilemma facing Cubs manager Craig Counsell and his coaches as they try to get a group of relievers back on track before the playoffs. With the Brewers holding a commanding lead in the division and the Phillies …

What to watch around the Cubs in September: Pete Crow-Armstrong can’t be a one-man show

The PCA Show captivated some of the greatest players in franchise history, who gathered at Wrigley Field over the weekend for a 150th anniversary celebration. Not only has Crow-Armstrong moved ahead of Shohei Ohtani in the National League MVP race, he’s also put himself in the best-season-ever conv…

Cubs Hall of Famer Jon Lester explains how to deal with umpires and sign stealing

Ahead of a big weekend at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs are holding a 150th anniversary celebration, Jon Lester returns to the show to give his perspective on the current team, which just returned from a difficult road trip. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney chat with Lester about Pe…

Cubs news and notes: Pete Crow-Armstrong blows up, Ben Brown goes down and the bullpen looks shaky

After a 2-4 road trip through Seattle and Arizona, the Cubs look like a team that could use a day off in Chicago. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their reporting and observations on PCA’s explosion after a blown balk call and Brown’s setback, which casts doubt on his ability …

What we’re hearing: Craig Counsell says it’s “go time” for Cubs

In a moment that demonstrated both the team’s sense of urgency and impressive roster depth, Cubs manager Craig Counsell made Shota Imanaga’s last start the shortest outing of his major-league career, not messing around at this stage of the playoff race. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Moo…

Cubs’ playoff roster projection: How the pitching staff will look in October

With newfound depth and a number of pitchers working their way back into the roster conversations, the Cubs are facing a series of difficult decisions as they gear up for the stretch run. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney talk through what they’re hearing about the pitching plans for…

Crosstown takeaways: What we learned from epic Cubs-White Sox series

Chicago sports fans were treated to an awesome spectacle at Wrigley Field with two dramatic walk-offs, a nasty fight in the bleachers that went viral and unforgettable individual performances that made you wonder what it would be like if these two teams somehow met in October. The Athletic’s Sahade…