How concerned should Cubs fans be right now? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney try to separate it all out during the final week of the regular season. Instead of cruising into the playoffs, the Cubs are dealing with a Cade Horton situation and a still uncertain timeline for Kyle Tucker. There is also added context around Matt Shaw’s decision to miss a game and attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. Go to Superpower.com to learn more and lock in the special $199 price while it lasts. Live up to your 100-Year potential. #superpowerpod Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

Following their big celebration in Pittsburgh, the Cubs were swept out of Cincinnati. The final week of the regular season continues with the Cubs on their longest losing streak of the year. How concerned should Cubs fans be right now? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share what they’re hearing in and around the clubhouse as October approaches. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets instantly, plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTubeTV. For 20% off your first purchase, head to FairHarborClothing.com/FOUL20 and use code FOUL20

Is the offense still a concern heading into the playoffs? And why would anyone other than Cade Horton start Game 1 for the Cubs? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney dig into those questions and more, assessing a lineup that’s missing Kyle Horton, and tracking Horton’s development into one of the sport’s best young pitchers. Internally, those postseason conversations have already begun. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets instantly, plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTubeTV. Go to MeUndies.com/foul and enter promo code foul for up to 50% off!

The Cubs are advancing to the postseason for the first time since 2020, an achievement that the team celebrated wildly in Pittsburgh. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney take you behind the scenes to capture the sights, sounds and smells from PNC’s visiting clubhouse. The moment revealed so many parts of the team’s identity, and served as a reminder that these opportunities should never be taken for granted. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets instantly, plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTubeTV. Go to MeUndies.com/foul and enter promo code foul for up to 50% off!

It feels inevitable. The Cubs are so close to clinching their first playoff berth since 2020 that even the people in uniform are thinking ahead and looking beyond that night’s game. For a behind-the-scenes perspective on what it’s like in the clubhouse right now, listen to The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney. The beat reporters explain how Cubs manager Craig Counsell is lining up the pitching staff for October, and why Pete Crow-Armstrong is looking forward to a reset in the playoffs. Plus: Is it time to be concerned about Kyle Tucker yet? Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets instantly, plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTubeTV. Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

With the playoffs approaching, you have questions, and Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney have answers. The Athletic’s Cubs writers respond to listeners who want to know who will be starting Game 1 at Wrigley Field: Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton or Shota Imanaga? Plus a look at who might be the Opening Day right fielder next year, and what the Cubs will be targeting on the free-agent market this winter. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets instantly, plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTubeTV. Go to Surfshark.com/foul or use code FOUL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!

One of the most popular players in franchise history is returning to Wrigley Field. Ahead of the ceremonial weekend marking Anthony Rizzo’s retirement and new role as a Cubs ambassador, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney look back on what made that era so special, and why people gravitated toward the big first baseman. The Athletic’s Cubs writers also dig into the decision to (finally) put All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker on the injured list, and how general manager Carter Hawkins is emerging as a strong candidate to take over the Nationals. Go to OmahaSteaks.com to get 50% off sitewide during their Red-Hot Sale Event and use Promo Code FOUL at checkout for an extra $35 off. For 20% off your first purchase, head to FairHarborClothing.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

Where to begin? Cubs closer Daniel Palencia is now on the injured list, though his recent performance was already putting his bullpen role in doubt. Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong seemed to benefit from their mental resets, but then the All-Star outfielders got hurt. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain how Cubs manager Craig Counsell is looking at the bullpen situation, and why he is sounding frustrated with the offense. It raises a question: Does this team look ready for the playoffs? Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets instantly, plus over $200 off NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTubeTV. Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

As the Cubs prepare for October, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are here to answer questions from listeners who want to know about the Cade Horton plan and what it could look like in the playoffs. Pitching is a focus throughout the episode, explaining how Craig Counsell and his staff could map things out in a postseason series. Also, does anyone remember what the Cubs got in return for Cody Bellinger in that offseason deal with the Yankees? Follow the money. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets instantly. Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to https://ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

With Chicago’s playoff odds holding steady, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back for a rundown on some of the club’s most important players. How the Cubs handle Kyle Tucker’s latest injury issue will be interesting. The hope is that Pete Crow-Armstrong will benefit from the kind of reset that Tucker took recently. And what has been the reaction within the clubhouse to the very conservative approach to Cade Horton’s workload? Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/FOUL! #trueclassicpod

With the wild-card odds overwhelmingly in their favor, the Cubs can use this final month of the season to their advantage. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney start with Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has cooled off considerably after an MVP-level stretch that carried the team. What does Kevin Alcántara’s promotion from Triple-A Iowa mean for Crow-Armstrong? Plus, a full analysis of Chicago’s recent additions for the stretch run, including an explanation of the move for Carlos Santana, the impact on Justin Turner, and why it is not too soon to start thinking about the playoff rotation. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/FOUL! #trueclassicpod

You have questions, we have answers. Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back with another edition of their mailbag, which not surprisingly revolves around Craig Counsell’s decisions at a time when the offense is struggling. The Athletic writers explain what the Cubs manager is thinking and what they’re observing in the clubhouse. In addition to context on Matt Shaw’s development and Seiya Suzuki’s struggles, there are insights into the club’s pitching plans as October begins to come into focus. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets instantly. For 20% off your first purchase, head to FairHarborClothing.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

With a West Coast trip in full swing, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney get together to bring you the latest on the Cubs. There are updates on Jameson Taillon and the club’s pitching plans for October, vibe checks in San Francisco, and first impressions of the 2026 schedule that just got released. Inspired by pitching Tommy Hottovy – who recently put Kyle Hendrick on his “Mount Rushmore of Cubs pitchers” – The Athletic writers offer their ideas. Earn points on rent and around your neighborhood, wherever you call home, by going to joinbilt.com/FOUL. For 20% off your first purchase, head to FairHarborClothing.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

After a mental reset/three-game benching, Kyle Tucker again looked like the difference-maker the Cubs will need to go on a long playoff run. How did it get to this point? And what were the reactions in the clubhouse and the dugout? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney compare notes and share reporting from Angel Stadium after a three-game sweep that put a little heat on the Brewers in the division race. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

In a recent TV appearance, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred fueled talk about expansion and reconfigured divisions. How would that impact the Cubs? Even if these concepts are off in the distance, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney have some ideas. The Athletic’s Cubs beat writers also get into the state of the pitching staff and the idea that maybe it’s time to just focus on the wild card. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

Recognizing that a moment had slipped away, Cubs manager Craig Counsell was not overly enthusiastic after his club won a five-game series against the division leader. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney analyze where things stand after the Cubs did not gain a lot of ground on Milwaukee. Plus more on the Kyle Tucker situation and the organization’s deliberate development plan for Owen Caissie. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at rula.com/foul! #rulapod

What once would have seemed unthinkable suddenly became inevitable. With Kyle Tucker going through the worst offensive stretch of his career – and the Wrigley Field crowds turning on him – Cubs manager Craig Counsell decided to give him a break during a huge series against the first-place Brewers. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney analyze what led to this point and how the Cubs could get out of it. Plus more news and notes from the Friendly Confines. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/FOUL! #trueclassicpod

The fallout from an underwhelming trade deadline continues. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney are back to take more questions from listeners, beginning with Carter Hawkins’ recent comments to ESPN. What did the Cubs general manager mean by the 2032 quote that has gone viral? Plus, much more on what makes the Brewers so good, and so frustrating for Cubs personnel and Cubs fans. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Go to Surfshark.com/foul or use code FOUL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!

At this point, it’s not an overreaction. The Cubs are playing an uninspired brand of baseball while continuing to lose ground in the National League Central. It’s time to sound the alarm bells. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney explain the current mood within the clubhouse as well as the larger organizational forces that have created this environment. While the Cubs still have time to turn things around, any changes have to happen fast. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOUL

It’s happening again. That small-market team in Milwaukee has taken control of the National League Central, leaving the Cubs to play catch-up and making their recent performance look even worse. What’s the current mood inside the clubhouse? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their insights and explain whether it’s time to panic. Their discussion also involves recent developments with young players such as Matt Shaw and Pete Crow-Armstrong, as well as how Craig Counsell is handling the situation. Get up to 10 FREE meals and a free high protein item for life at HelloFresh.com/FT10FM. One item per box with active subscription. Free meals applied as a discount on the first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code FOUL, bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets instantly.