Wrigleyville Nation's Podcast - Chicago Cubs Discussion, News, & More · wrigleyvillenation.com

Ep 393 - Guest: James Neveau, Cubs Playoff Preview, Horton Injured, Regular Season Recap, & More

September 29, 2025·1 hr 13 min·3 clips

The Cubs lose their number-one playoff pitcher Cade Horton to a fractured rib just before the postseason.

The show starts with a small Chicago sports miracle. Bears, Cubs, and Blackhawks all win on the same day. That clears the table for the bigger point: the Cubs are in the postseason. Jeremy and Pat frame the end of the regular season as relief first, then momentum. James Neveau from NBC Chicago joins the conversation and keeps the focus on the Cubs. The group walks back through how the Cubs got here. They also spend time on the week's injury news, especially Kate Horton. That injury folds into the playoff conversation right away. Once the talk turns to San Diego, the roster discussion tightens. The show works through possible pitching roles instead of leaning on broad optimism. Schultz, Soroka, Assad, Porter Hodge, Ben Brown, and Taylor Rogers all come into the frame. The back-and-forth is mostly about who can cover innings and who can handle matchup pressure. Left-handed relief keeps coming up because the Padres can line up multiple lefties. The hosts keep testing different combinations instead of settling for one easy answer. Later, they shift to the offense and point to Michael Busch's strong week. The episode stays grounded about the Cubs' October spot. The close is upbeat, with James talking about NBC Chicago coverage and the appeal of more Cubs baseball in October.

As heard by us

A measured Cubs playoff preview that keeps roster math and October in view.

Episode 393 stays focused on the Cubs' postseason path, but it opens with a small burst of relief after a rare day when the Bears, Cubs, and Blackhawks all won. Jeremy Diemer and Pat move from that setup into the wildcard matchup with the Padres and the road that led there.

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Why you'd press play

You want a Cubs playoff preview that starts with Kate Horton's injury news and works into the bullpen picture.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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