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 champagne is popped, the Cubs are going to have to sweat it out with the Phillies, Padres and Diamondbacks. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break down the state of play in the middle of September. Missing the playoffs would be an organizational failure that wastes Pete Crow-Armstrong’s likely MVP season, the best defense in baseball and the sport’s highest-scoring offense. Stay tuned.

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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 questions from listeners who want to know: Are Cubs officials as frustrated as Cubs fans when the Brewers are running away with the division title again? Moving forward, how will this late-season slump influence the organization’s strategies around pitcher development and bullpen construction? And is anyone coming from Triple-A Iowa to help this team? Listen for behind-the-scenes insights and the latest information on the Cubs.

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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’s the current mood in the clubhouse? How did it get to this point? And who might be able to help with these issues? The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney share their reporting and insights from Milwaukee.

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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 Craig Counsell was thinking and where the Cubs go from here. Within the next three weeks, the Cubs have to figure out their bullpen, finish ahead of the Phillies and try to peak at the right time. Because the Brewers are clearly the class of the NL Central over a 162-game schedule. The playoffs might be a different story.

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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 first-place Brewers in a potential playoff rematch. The Athletic beat writers also provide information on the state of the pitching staff, as the Cubs have to prepare for the possibility of making it through four postseason rounds. Who would you trust to start a playoff game? And what should they expect from Justin Steele, Shelby Miller and Ben Brown moving forward?

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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 group of relievers back on track before the playoffs. With the Brewers holding a commanding lead in the division and the Phillies surging in the wild-card race, The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney examine the club’s options moving forward.

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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 has Crow-Armstrong moved ahead of Shohei Ohtani in the National League MVP race, he’s also put himself in the best-season-ever conversation for a club that was founded in 1876. Still, there are areas of concerns as the Cubs enter the final month of the regular season. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney outline the road ahead, with major questions about Shota Imanaga’s spot in the rotation, who can be trusted out of the bullpen, and if the Cubs can hold off the Phillies for the top wild-card spot and put some pressure on the Brewers in September.

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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 team, which just returned from a difficult road trip. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney chat with Lester about Pete Crow-Armstrong’s emotional reaction and pointed comments after a blown balk call. Lester also gives a scouting report on former teammate Quintin Berry, the Cubs third-base coach involved in a sign-stealing back-and-forth with the Diamondbacks. Listen for insider insights drawn from the field and the clubhouse.

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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 their reporting and observations on PCA’s explosion after a blown balk call and Brown’s setback, which casts doubt on his ability to return this season. Plus, an updated look at Craig Counsell’s circle of trust and how the Cubs will try to get their bullpen right over this final month before the playoffs.

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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 outing of his major-league career, not messing around at this stage of the playoff race. The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney break down what it means for Imanaga, Counsell and the plans for October. Plus, reporting from the dugout and the clubhouse on why Kevin Gausman looks like a Game 1 playoff starter, and how Justin Steele and Ben Brown could fit onto the postseason pitching staff.

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