The intelligence read

• Holding the 1st wild card by 6.0 games.

• Won 3 straight — 5-5 over the last ten.

• 12 on the injured list — 10 of them pitchers. The staff is running on depth.

• 2nd in the NL Central, 7.0 back of the Brewers.

• Run differential +139 — the record is earned, not luck.

• 2026-09-05: Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Javier Assad from Iowa Cubs.

• Next up: at Marlins, Sun, Sep 6.

NL wild-card race

+ holds the spot · top 3 are in

• Ben Brown · PIL-60
• Cade Horton · PIL-60
• Hunter Harvey · PIL-60
• Justin Steele · PIL-60
• Phil Maton · PIL-60
• Porter Hodge · PIL-60
• Riley Martin · PIL-60
• Shelby Miller · PIL-60
• Tyler Austin · 1BIL-60
• Dansby Swanson · SS

• 2026-09-05 — Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Javier Assad from Iowa Cubs.
• 2026-09-05 — Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Tyler Ferguson to Iowa Cubs.
• 2026-09-02 — Chicago Cubs sent LHP Justin Steele on a rehab assignment to Iowa Cubs.
• 2026-09-01 — Chicago Cubs selected the contract of 3B BJ Murray Jr. from Iowa Cubs.
• 2026-09-01 — Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Tyler Ferguson from Iowa Cubs.

• at MarlinsSun, Sep 6, 12:40 PM
• at BrewersMon, Sep 7, 1:10 PM
• at BrewersTue, Sep 8, 6:40 PM
• at BrewersWed, Sep 9, 6:40 PM
• vs PiratesFri, Sep 11, 1:20 PM

• Preseason — real football returns Sep 13 at Panthers.

• 0-0, 1st in NFC North.

• The opening stretch: at CAR, vs MIN, vs PHI.

• 2026 NFL rookies guide: Stat leaders, fantasy picks, top QBs

No injury report — the league publishes them in-season.