Brett and Michael are back for the thirtieth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs have officially clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2020 after sweeping the Pirates, and the guys reflect on how far this roster has come. They debate whether this team has the pieces to make a deep October run and what a realistic championship path looks like.They also break down the projected playoff rotation, how the Cubs will set it up, and the confidence level in the arms leading the way. Matthew Boyd’s recent struggles are also on the table—after making hitters look foolish earlier in the season, his command has been shaky, his wildness has crept up, and his whiff rate has fallen dramatically.A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.comFollow Michael on Twitter ➡️ @michael_ceramiFollow Brett on Twitter ➡️ @brett_a_taylorFollow Bleacher Nation on Twitter ➡️ @bleachernationFollow Michael on Bluesky ➡️ @michael-cerami.bsky.socialFollow Brett on Bluesky ➡️ @brett-taylor.bsky.socialFollow Bleacher Nation on Bluesky ➡️ @bleachernation.bsky.socialVisit our Website ➡️ bleachernation.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Fifth-Best Record, Brewers Out Front & Cubs Search for Power | Bleacher Nation Cubs
Brett and Michael are back together for the twenty-ninth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! The Cubs dropped their series to the Nationals and opened the Braves set with another loss, pushing their skid to three games. Still, they remain the only team in baseball without a four-game losing streak this season and hold the fifth-best record overall.The guys talk about the Cubs’ inability to capitalize while the Brewers have been scuffling, and how regression has hit the offense—especially with runners in scoring position and a lack of home run production. They also dig into Seiya Suzuki’s second-half power drought (just one homer in nearly two months) despite strong underlying hard-hit metrics.A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.comFollow Michael on Twitter ➡️ @michael_ceramiFollow Brett on Twitter ➡️ @brett_a_taylorFollow Bleacher Nation on Twitter ➡️ @bleachernationFollow Michael on Bluesky ➡️ @michael-cerami.bsky.socialFollow Brett on Bluesky ➡️ @brett-taylor.bsky.socialFollow Bleacher Nation on Bluesky ➡️ @bleachernation.bsky.socialVisit our Website ➡️ bleachernation.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Cade Horton’s Arrieta-Like Run, Cubs Take Two Series & Tucker Update | Bleacher Nation Cubs
Brett is flying solo for the twenty-eighth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! He recaps a strong stretch of baseball for the Cubs, including series wins over both the Rockies at Coors Field and the Braves at Wrigley Field.The Cubs have widened their Wild Card lead thanks to some stumbles by the Padres, but the main spotlight goes to Cade Horton. His second half has been outstanding, with strikeouts climbing, walks falling, and a run that’s drawing comparisons to Jake Arrieta’s legendary 2015 second-half surge. Brett digs into Horton’s Rookie of the Year chances and what his emergence means for the rotation.Also on the docket: Kyle Tucker leaving the second Braves game early with calf tightness. The hope is it’s nothing more than precautionary, with Tucker likely to return by Friday.A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.com Follow Michael on Twitter ➡️ @michael_ceramiFollow Brett on Twitter ➡️ @brett_a_taylorFollow Bleacher Nation on Twitter ➡️ @bleachernationFollow Michael on Bluesky ➡️ @michael-cerami.bsky.socialFollow Brett on Bluesky ➡️ @brett-taylor.bsky.socialFollow Bleacher Nation on Bluesky ➡️ @bleachernation.bsky.socialVisit our Website ➡️ bleachernation.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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From Division Chase to Wild Card Push, Cubs Still Hold Strong | Bleacher Nation Cubs
Brett and Michael are back for the twenty-seventh episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! They discuss the rocky start to the Giants series, including Matthew Boyd’s rough outing despite San Francisco’s struggles against lefties leading into the matchup.The guys also dive into the subtle shift in expectations as the Cubs pivot from chasing the NL Central crown to focusing on locking up the top Wild Card spot. Despite offensive regression and continued struggles at the plate—both for Michael Busch individually and the lineup as a whole—the Cubs still hold the fifth-best record in baseball and have avoided the kind of collapse that can sink a season. They wrap up with some positives too, including the sweep of the Angels.A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.comFollow Michael on Twitter ➡️ @michael_ceramiFollow Brett on Twitter ➡️ @brett_a_taylorFollow Bleacher Nation on Twitter ➡️ @bleachernationFollow Michael on Bluesky ➡️ @michael-cerami.bsky.socialFollow Brett on Bluesky ➡️ @brett-taylor.bsky.socialFollow Bleacher Nation on Bluesky ➡️ @bleachernation.bsky.socialVisit our Website ➡️ bleachernation.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Cubs Take 3 of 5 from Brewers, Chicago Looks Stronger Head-to-Head | Bleacher Nation Cubs
Brett and Michael are back for the twenty-sixth episode of the Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast (Presented by Ankin Law)! They recap a pivotal stretch against the Brewers, where the Cubs took three of five games and showed plenty of reasons to believe they’re the stronger club—even if the standings still lean Milwaukee’s way.The guys dig into why the Brewers seem to consistently out-perform their roster on paper and compare what they’ve seen across the 13 head-to-head matchups so far. They also discuss Kyle Tucker getting a short mental break amidst his slump, the revelation that he’s been playing with a hand fracture, and his quick return to the lineup after two days off.A special thank you to Ankin Law for sponsoring this podcast!Visit Ankin Law's Website ➡️ ankinlaw.comFollow Michael on Twitter ➡️ @michael_ceramiFollow Brett on Twitter ➡️ @brett_a_taylorFollow Bleacher Nation on Twitter ➡️ @bleachernationFollow Michael on Bluesky ➡️ @michael-cerami.bsky.socialFollow Brett on Bluesky ➡️ @brett-taylor.bsky.socialFollow Bleacher Nation on Bluesky ➡️ @bleachernation.bsky.socialVisit our Website ➡️ bleachernation.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Bleacher Nation Cubs Podcast is your go-to source for smart, entertaining, and insightful Chicago Cubs talk. Hosted by Brett Taylor and Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation, this show dives into everything Cubs fans need to know. New episodes Thursdays.