CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Cubs have secured home-field advantage for their National League Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres.
Going into Saturday’s action against St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, Chicago had a magic number of one for clinching the top NL Wild Card and home-field advantage in the first round.
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The Cubs beat the Cardinals 7-3.
The Cubs and Padres play Game 1 of their best-of-three series on Tuesday.
The last time the Cubs hosted a postseason game at Wrigley Field with fans in attendance was in October 2018. It is their first postseason appearance since 2020, when no fans were in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong celebrates his home run with Seiya Suzuki during a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Chicago.
(AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
There was lot of excitement in Wrigleyville after the Cubs victory. Fans came out to represent, celebrating around Wrigley Field Saturday night.
“We have been waiting for this for many years,” Cubs fan Karen Hojnacki. “The atmosphere in the park, today, was fantastic, and anytime we can beat St. Louis, it’s a good day.”
Many fans are excited to return to the Friendly Confines next week to finally witness postseason baseball at home after the Cubs’ MLB playoffs hiatus.
“Man, I’m ready for this World Series win again. Ready for the playoffs,” Cubs fan Jose Barrera said. “We’re going all the way.”
Meanwhile, some Cardinal fans were not too happy. ABC7 spoke to a family divided over Saturday’s game.
“I can’t control what he wears, you know? So, it’s disappointing,” Cubs fan Elvis Andrade said of his Cardinals fan father. “But, it was a good day, right? Because Cubs closed it out, and we’re able to get that home-field advantage.”
Earlier Saturday, the Cubs placed Cade Horton on the 15-day injured list, sidelining the right-hander for their first-round playoff series against San Diego.
“Even though we got bad news on Cade Horton. He has a fractured rib,” fan Ricardo Ruvalcaba said. “I think we can take two out of three at home.”
Horton, one of the leading contenders for NL Rookie of the Year, has a right rib fracture. The IL move was made retroactive to Thursday.
The loss of Horton is a big blow for Chicago going into the postseason. The 24-year-old Horton, a first-round pick in the 2022 amateur draft, is 8-1 with a sparkling 1.03 ERA in 12 starts since the All-Star break.
Horton threw on the field before the Cubs’ game against St. Louis on Saturday. He was slated to throw a bullpen session Sunday before the IL move was announced.
Horton pitched three innings against the New York Mets on Tuesday before departing because of back tightness. He was sick after his previous start and was coughing, leading to issues with his back and ribs, manager Craig Counsell said.
Horton was “on track still,” but an MRI showed “some areas of concern” in the ribs, Counsell said Thursday.
Horton is 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 22 starts and one relief appearance.
In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled left-hander Jordan Wicks from Triple-A Iowa. Wicks is 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA in seven appearances with Chicago this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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