Overview
- The Cubs dropped a 12‑inning game to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday when they surrendered six runs in the 12th, a defeat that prevented them from clinching and left them tied with the Phillies and Padres at 87–70 with five games to play.
- Chicago went 1‑for‑18 with runners in scoring position and stranded 15 runners in the game, a situational hitting failure that turned a chance to seal a playoff spot into a missed opportunity.
- Third baseman Alex Bregman will miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering facial fractures from a foul ball and will not require surgery, removing a key middle‑of‑the‑order bat for the final five games.
- Manager Craig Counsell must balance rotation choices for the final series at Boston with limited off days and storm‑forecast uncertainty, with Kevin Gausman scheduled to start and lefty Justin Steele throwing a bullpen this week as a possible activation that would require a 40‑man roster move.
- Pete Crow‑Armstrong is in the leadoff spot while chasing milestone home runs, and the Cubs hold the necessary head‑to‑head tiebreakers if the three teams finish level, making each remaining game and roster move decisive for seeding and matchup planning.