Updated 2026 MLB Playoffs Bracket Picture and Standings After PCA, Cubs Clinch Berth

It has been a roller-coaster season of injuries, winning streaks, losing streaks, poor pitching and an MVP performance, but the Chicago Cubs are going to the playoffs for the second straight year.

Chicago clinched its postseason spot with a 2-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday, which came just minutes after the Chicago White Sox also clinched a spot.

American League Division Standings

East	W	L	GB
Tampa Bay Rays***	96	62	0.0
New York Yankees*	91	67	5.0
Boston Red Sox*	85	73	11.0
Toronto Blue Jays	78	81	18.5
Baltimore Orioles	77	82	19.5

Central	W	L	GB
Cleveland Guardians	82	76	0.0
Chicago White Sox*	82	77	0.5
Minnesota Twins	75	84	7.5
Detroit Tigers	74	85	8.5
Kansas City Royals	68	91	14.5

West	W	L	GB
Houston Astros	78	80	0.0
Texas Rangers	78	80	0.0
Seattle Mariners	74	84	4.0
Athletics	63	95	15.0
Los Angeles Angels	60	98	18.0

American League Wild-Card Standings

Team	GB
New York Yankees*	+10.0
Boston Red Sox*	+4.0
Chicago White Sox*	0.0

National League Division Standings

East	W	L	GB
Atlanta Braves**	93	65	0.0
Philadelphia Phillies	87	71	6.0
Miami Marlins	78	81	15.5
Washington Nationals	75	84	18.5
New York Mets	73	85	20.0

Central	W	L	GB
Milwaukee Brewers***	99	59	0.0
Chicago Cubs*	88	71	11.5
Pittsburgh Pirates	81	78	18.5
St. Louis Cardinals	77	82	22.5
Cincinnati Reds	73	85	26.0

West	W	L	GB
Los Angeles Dodgers**	97	61	0.0
San Diego Padres	88	70	9.0
Arizona Diamondbacks	84	74	13.0
San Francisco Giants	65	94	32.5
Colorado Rockies	57	101	40.0

National League Wild-Card Standings

Team	GB
San Diego Padres	+1
Chicago Cubs*	+0.5
Philadelphia Phillies	0
--------------------
Arizona Diamondbacks	3.0

*Indicates clinched playoff spot

**Indicates clinched division

***Indicates clinched division and first-round bye

The Cubs had high expectations heading into the season after reaching the playoffs in 2025 and then adding Alex Bregman to an already potent lineup in the offseason, but the path to the postseason was anything but smooth.

Perhaps becoming the second team in MLB history to record two 10-game winning streaks and a 10-game losing streak in the same season—and doing so by May—should have been a sign of the uneven path.

Presumed ace Cade Horton was lost for the season to Tommy John surgery in April, which was an even more difficult blow because top-line starter Justin Steele missed most of last year and this year with his own Tommy John surgery. The idea of Steele potentially returning in 2026 didn't fully come into the picture until he made rehab appearances in September.

Those were far from the only pitching injuries, as Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera and Ben Brown all spent significant time on the injured list. Brown was lost for the season because of a rehab setback, which was a difficult break since he had emerged as one of the team's best pitchers when others were sidelined.

Injuries were not limited to the starting staff, as the bullpen saw Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Riley Martin, Hunter Harvey and Porter Hodge, among others, all deal with setbacks.

The end result has been arguably the worst pitching staff in baseball, although the front office did bolster it some with the additions of Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes ahead of the trade deadline.

Despite the pitching, Chicago is still heading to the postseason in large part because of its excellent hitting and defense.

According to Baseball Savant, the Cubs have a fielding run value of 70, which is significantly ahead of the second-place Toronto Blue Jays' total of 43. With players such as Pete Crow-Armstrong, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Bregman leading the way, the defense has helped make up for some of the poor pitching.

As for the offense, the Cubs set a National League record for home runs in a month with 62 in August, which was more of the same for a team that leads the league in runs scored.

Crow-Armstrong has been the driving force of that offense with his combination of power and speed, which has resulted in 45 home runs and 40 stolen bases. He is the overwhelming favorite to take home the NL MVP and someone who could potentially swing a short playoff series now that Chicago has reached the postseason.

Bregman overcame a slow start to become one of the team's leading hitters, while Seiya Suzuki provided plenty of pop outside of the two big names.

Ultimately, the Cubs' pitching woes could prove too much to overcome in the playoffs, but the offense and defense will give them a chance in any series.