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A Cub fan’s guide to the Division Series

Following a turbulent 2026 campaign derailed by injuries and a late September slump, the Chicago Cubs failed to advance past the Wild Card round. Despite the early postseason exit, Pete Crow-Armstrong achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player in franchise history to record a 40-40 season, positioning himself for an upcoming Most Valuable Player honor.

With the Cubs out of the championship bracket, attention shifts to the divisional matchups, including the White Sox facing off against the Guardians. The White Sox secured their initial playoff series victory since 2005 by defeating the Astros in Houston, and manager Will Venable has tapped Hagen Smith to open Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians captured the AL Central title for a third consecutive year and will rely on a pitching rotation featuring Parker Messick, Gavin Williams, and Foster Griffin to counter Chicago. Cleveland's offense continues to be anchored by José Ramírez, though the veteran infielder battled through an injury-plagued season that saw a significant drop in his statistical output compared to the previous year.

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