The Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast

Brett and Michael are back for the eighty-fifth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the offseason beginning to take shape, the guys turn their attention to some of the biggest roster decisions facing the Cubs.

That starts with several important players approaching free agency, including Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, and what their potential departures or returns would mean for the rest of the lineup. Brett and Michael discuss whether the Cubs should prioritize bringing familiar pieces back, how much change the roster actually needs, and what the ripple effects could look like if they decide to move in a different direction.

From there, the conversation shifts toward the organization's emerging prospects and how much responsibility they could take on next season. Whether it's filling holes in the everyday lineup, contributing on the pitching staff, or creating more flexibility at DH, the Cubs have several young players who could influence how aggressively the front office needs to shop this winter.

It's an early look at how the 2027 roster could begin coming together from both inside and outside the organization.

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Brett and Michael are back for the eighty-fourth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the Cubs' season over and the offseason still relatively quiet, the guys turn their attention to the MLB postseason and what can be learned from the teams still playing.

They touch on the ALCS before spending much more time on the National League side, particularly the Brewers. Given how closely Chicago and Milwaukee have battled in recent seasons, Brett and Michael examine what the Brewers continue to do well, where their roster-building approach differs from the Cubs, and whether there are lessons Chicago can take from a division rival still playing deep into October.

That discussion includes some appreciation for Christian Yelich and the impact he continues to make in Milwaukee's lineup.

The guys also circle back to the Cubs, discussing the early stages of the offseason and floating some possibilities for how the roster could begin to change once the initial player-movement period gets underway.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Brett and Michael are back for the seventy-eighth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! It was a road trip to forget, with the Cubs dropping series to both the Mariners and Diamondbacks before getting shut out 2-0 to finish a particularly brutal stretch.

Unfortunately, the losses weren't the only bad news. Ben Brown suffered another setback with his neck just as he appeared ready to begin a rehab assignment, putting his potential return this season in serious doubt. The guys discuss what the latest setback means for Brown both this year and potentially longer term.

They also revisit a painful collapse in Arizona, including the missed balk that had Pete Crow-Armstrong furious and a late-inning bullpen meltdown. Daniel Palencia is still trying to regain his form after returning from injury, while the Cubs' heavy reliance on Jacob Webb raises questions about how much longer they can continue leaning on him so aggressively.

After a rough road trip and an even rougher final 36 hours, Brett and Michael assess where the Cubs stand as the stretch run approaches.

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Brett and Michael are back for the seventy-seventh episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! With the trade deadline additions getting settled in, the guys share their early impressions of the Cubs' newest pieces, including Clay Holmes, whose extreme groundball profile has been on full display since joining the rotation.

From there, it's time for a much-needed health check on a roster that still has plenty of important players working their way back. Daniel Palencia is nearing his return, although he may not immediately jump back into the closer role, while Dansby Swanson continues to rest and recover.

There's also encouraging progress for Ben Brown, who is scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice as he takes another significant step toward a potential rehab assignment. Meanwhile, the outlook isn't as encouraging for Hunter Harvey, whose recovery has hit another snag.

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Brett and Michael are back for the seventy-sixth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs are coming off an ugly 7-0 loss to the Nationals, with Kevin Gausman getting hit hard and Cade Cavalli shutting down the offense. But unlike some losses earlier this season, the guys aren't particularly troubled by this one. Sometimes a good pitcher beats you, and their confidence in the Cubs' offense—and the team as a whole—hasn't changed.

From there, they take a broader look at where the Cubs stand as the season moves deeper into August. The inevitable ups and downs feel a little different with a roster they believe is equipped to handle them, especially after the additions made at the trade deadline.

They also discuss Ben Brown's eventual return and what his role could look like down the stretch. Brown showed plenty before his injury, including in higher-leverage situations, but how much will the Cubs trust him when games take on a postseason feel? And where does he fit within a pitching staff that suddenly has considerably more options?

Plus, plenty more on the Cubs as the stretch run continues.

A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!

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