North Side Territory: A Chicago Cubs Podcast

What we’re hearing about Alex Bregman and the Cubs’ playoff planning

Bregman Watch is on. In an unexpected, overwhelmingly positive update — under the circumstances — the Cubs expressed their belief that the All-Star third baseman will pla

Alex Bregman’s freak injury clouds the Cubs’ playoff picture

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

Cubs are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot, but are they trending in the right direction?

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 f

With offense/defense clicking, Cubs have everything except their bullpen in order for playoffs

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 agai

How the Cubs stack up in the National League wild-card race

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 cha

Cubs mailbag: Why do they keep getting lapped by the Brewers?

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 questi

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’

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 Crai

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 firs

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 g

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 ha

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

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 t

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 outin

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

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 in

Pete Crow-Armstrong makes his MVP case as Cubs work around late-season issues

PCA created another signature moment for the highlight reels attached to his MVP campaign and this crosstown rivalry. That walk-off homer against the White Sox was only t

Cubs mailbag: Can they catch the Brewers? Plus more on potential playoff rosters and free agents

With the Cubs rolling into the stretch run, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back to answer your questions. Does this team have enough left in the tan

Jon Lester: The 2026 Cubs are a World Series contender that can match up with the Dodgers

Jon Lester returns to the show for another wide-ranging conversation with The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney. After attending the 10-year reunion for the 20

What we’re hearing: Post-deadline outlook on the Cubs’ offseason plans

While the Cubs are absorbed in the playoff race, this period after the trade deadline is a good time to reassess the organization’s future. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma