Even with their magic number to clinch a postseason spot cut down to one, the Cubs weren’t necessarily in a celebratory mood. The Bregman moment was that unsettling, and his presence is that important to the team. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share what they heard and saw in Cincinnati, including an interesting update on how the Cubs are already running their bullpen in playoff mode.

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The magic number is dwindling to a point where the Cubs will almost certainly qualify for the playoffs. Maybe it doesn’t matter how they get there. But heading into the final week of the regular season, it’s easy to spot the areas of concern. You also have to acknowledge the good things that put them in this position. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break it all down, including a full report on the team field trip to Churchill Downs that Alex Bregman and Craig Counsell helped organize.

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Pete Crow-Armstrong appears to be a lock for National League MVP. Alex Bregman continues to show why he was such a coveted free agent. And Shota Imanaga is locked in again. The Cubs would be rolling into the playoffs — if their bullpen wasn’t such a big question mark. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break it all down after a big series win over the first-place Braves.

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The next two weeks will define the Cubs’ season. Making the playoffs is an annual goal that remains within reach, even a likely outcome. But until the first bottle of champagne is popped, the Cubs are going to have to sweat it out with the Phillies, Padres and Diamondbacks. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break down the state of play in the middle of September. Missing the playoffs would be an organizational failure that wastes Pete Crow-Armstrong’s likely MVP season, the best defense in baseball and the sport’s highest-scoring offense. Stay tuned.

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With the Cubs getting swept out of Milwaukee, it seems like a good time to hear what the fans are thinking. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney answer questions from listeners who want to know: Are Cubs officials as frustrated as Cubs fans when the Brewers are running away with the division title again? Moving forward, how will this late-season slump influence the organization’s strategies around pitcher development and bullpen construction? And is anyone coming from Triple-A Iowa to help this team? Listen for behind-the-scenes insights and the latest information on the Cubs.

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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’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their reporting and insights from Milwaukee.

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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, finish ahead of the Phillies and try to peak at the right time. Because the Brewers are clearly the class of the NL Central over a 162-game schedule. The playoffs might be a different story.

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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 staff, as the Cubs have to prepare for the possibility of making it through four postseason rounds. Who would you trust to start a playoff game? And what should they expect from Justin Steele, Shelby Miller and Ben Brown moving forward?

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