CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Cubs have secured home-field advantage for their National League Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres.
Heading into the Saturday matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, the Chicago team needed just one more win to secure the top NL Wild Card spot and ensure home-field advantage for the first playoff series.
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The Cubs beat the Cardinals 7-3.
The Cubs and Padres play Game 1 of their best-of-three series on Tuesday.
The last occasion when the Cubs played a postseason game at Wrigley Field with fans watching was in October 2018. Their latest playoff appearance was in 2020, but no fans were present due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong celebrated a home run with teammate Seiya Suzuki during the baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, September 27, 2025, in Chicago.
(AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Earlier on Saturday, the Cubs announced that Cade Horton was placed on the 15-day injured list, meaning the right-handed pitcher will be absent for their playoff opener against San Diego.
Horton, one of the leading contenders for NL Rookie of the Year, has a right rib fracture. The IL move was made retroactive to Thursday.
Horton’s absence is a significant setback for the team as they enter the postseason. The 24-year-old, selected in the first round of the 2022 amateur draft, boasts a remarkable record of 8-1 with a 1.03 ERA in 12 starts post-All-Star break.
Before the announcement of his IL placement, Horton was seen throwing on the field before the Cubs’ game against St. Louis on Saturday and had been scheduled for a bullpen session on Sunday.
Horton pitched three innings against the New York Mets on Tuesday before departing because of back tightness. He was sick after his previous start and was coughing, leading to issues with his back and ribs, manager Craig Counsell said.
Horton was “on track still,” but an MRI showed “some areas of concern” in the ribs, Counsell said Thursday.
Horton is 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 22 starts and one relief appearance.
In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled left-hander Jordan Wicks from Triple-A Iowa. Wicks is 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA in seven appearances with Chicago this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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