Cubs take Game 1 — and face Dylan Cease next. Plus: Bears' left tackle change and Fire clinch playoff spot.
Sports Wednesday, October 1, 2025 | | |
| | | | | Good morning, Chicago. Seiya Suzuki jolted the 39,114 Cubs fans onto their feet at Wrigley Field with a 112.2 mph laser off Padres starter Nick Pivetta into the bleachers to tie the score in the fifth inning. Moments later, catcher Carson Kelly took Pivetta deep to left-center field to put the Cubs ahead on back-to-back homers. Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Kittredge and Brad Keller combined to toss 4 2/3 perfect innings in relief for a 3-1 victory in the best-of-three series — the Cubs' first playoff win since 2017 and their first postseason game since 2020. Nico Hoerner's sacrifice fly in the eighth provided a late insurance run. "I mean, just simply put, it was fantastic,
" Suzuki said of his homer. "You just felt the passion of the fans, them cheering us on. Rounding the bases, I felt some nerves obviously, but great feeling overall." In the week leading up to the playoffs, manager Craig Counsell kept reiterating that some players would need to step up, that
it didn't matter who, but for the Cubs to make an October run, opportunities must be seized. Playoff newcomers stood out Tuesday as Suzuki, Kelly, Hoerner (two singles) and Michael Busch (single and intentional walk to set up the sac fly) were responsible for five of the Cubs' six hits. Stay connected with us all day: Sign up for our newsletters to get the latest news in your inbox. And you can follow us on social media: X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Threads. Not a Tribune subscriber? Here's our latest offer. | | | | The Chicago Cubs pitchers are all just “out-getters,” says manager Craig Counsell. On Tuesday the OGs got the job done in a 3-1 win. | | | | | Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly became the fourth duo to hit back-to-back home runs in Chicago Cubs postseason history. | | | | | In order to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, Chicago Bears officials say the team would need substantial taxpayer support for infrastructure improvements. | | | | | Braxton Jones’ hold on the starting left tackle position was tenuous when the season began. With the bye week here, a change is expected. | | | | | Despite a long period of negotiations in restricted free agency, Josh Giddey always planned on a return to Chicago. | | | | | Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic was cut in the side by a skate in Sunday’s preseason game. He’ll get time the rest of this week for the wound to heal. | | | |
