The Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast

Brett and Michael are back for Episode 82 of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With a little time to process the abrupt end to the season, the guys take a step back and look at the 2026 Cubs as a whole.
There was plenty worth appreciating about this team, from stretches where the Cubs looked capable of competing with anyone to individual performances that made the season memorable. But there were also recurring problems that eventually caught up with them, whether it was an injury-riddled pitching staff, extended offensive droughts, or a late-season slide that turned what once looked like a comfortable postseason position into a short Wild Card trip to San Diego.
Brett and Michael discuss where things actually went wrong, which shortcomings feel most important heading into the offseason, and why the disappointing finish shouldn't erase everything the Cubs accomplished along the way.
It's a season-long look back at the highs, the frustrations, the missed opportunities, and what 2026 ultimately told us about where the Cubs stand.
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Brett and Michael are back for the eighty-second episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law). Unfortunately, the Cubs' season is over after dropping both games of their Wild Card series against the Padres while scoring just one run.
The offense was the defining problem of the series, particularly when opportunities arose to deliver a big hit. Nico Hoerner did everything he could with four hits, but there simply wasn't enough around him to keep the season alive.
Brett and Michael discuss how to evaluate such an abrupt ending without allowing two frustrating postseason games to rewrite everything that came before them. At the same time, the offensive struggles can't simply be dismissed. The Cubs went through extended stretches this season where the lineup failed to produce consistently, including another difficult run down the stretch, and seeing those issues resurface in October makes them impossible to ignore.
The guys begin unpacking what went wrong, what actually carries significance into next season, and what shouldn't be overreacted to after a disappointing postseason exit.
A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!
Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com
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Brett and Michael are back for the eighty-first episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! After a much more stressful September than anyone expected, the Cubs have finally punched their ticket to the postseason.
The guys take a broader look at the journey that got them here, from a season filled with significant injuries and dramatic swings to a late Wild Card race that became far tighter than anticipated. Now, the focus turns toward October, with home-field positioning still to be decided and plenty of questions surrounding how the roster and pitching staff will line up for the postseason. Bleacher Nation
And amid all of it, Pete Crow-Armstrong officially reached 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases, putting another exclamation point on a remarkable season. Bleacher Nation
With the playoff berth finally secured, Brett and Michael take stock of where the Cubs stand, what still needs to be sorted out, and what to expect when postseason baseball begins.
A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!
Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com
Get your Cubs Coverage at https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs
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Brett and Michael are back for the eightieth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! For most of the season, the question hasn't been whether the Cubs would make the playoffs, but where they would be seeded when they got there. Suddenly, that conversation has changed.
After losing a series to the Brewers last week and getting swept by Milwaukee this time around, the Cubs' once-comfortable hold on the top Wild Card spot has turned into a much tighter race simply to reach October. They've played below .500 baseball over the last month while several of the teams chasing them have gotten red hot.
But Brett and Michael discuss why the situation isn't quite as dire as the recent results might suggest. The Cubs have lost an unusual number of razor-thin games, and there are still plenty of reasons to believe this team can steady itself down the stretch.
They also discuss Pete Crow-Armstrong's incredible season, the frustration of potentially watching it go to waste, and what the Cubs need to do to make sure their season doesn't end earlier than anyone expected.
A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!
Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com
Get your Cubs Coverage at https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs
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Brett and Michael are back for the seventy-ninth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! As the Cubs look to salvage a split against the Brewers, the guys take a broader look at what they're realistically playing for over the final weeks of the regular season.
While an NL Central comeback isn't impossible, the more attainable goal is securing the top Wild Card spot and putting themselves in the best possible position for October. Brett and Michael discuss that shifting focus and what they'll be watching as the Cubs navigate the final stretch.
A big part of that conversation is Daniel Palencia, whose return hasn't gone nearly as smoothly as hoped. But after so much time sidelined, the guys discuss why it's worth viewing this stretch almost like Palencia's April—a chance to rebuild velocity, regain his feel, and ramp back up for more important games ahead.
The results have been frustrating, but September doesn't have to define what Palencia can provide in October. Plus, plenty more on the Cubs as the postseason picture begins to take shape.
A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!
Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com
Get your Cubs Coverage at https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs
Get your Bears Coverage at https://www.bleachernation.com/bears
Get your Bulls Coverage at https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls
Get your Blackhawks Coverage at https://www.bleachernation.com/blackhawks
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