Game Recap: Cubs blank Cardinals to cap off regular season

Kamil Krzaczynski - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 10 hours ago

CHICAGO - Next stop, the Postseason as the Chicago Cubs (92-70) are headed to the Postseason for the first time since 2020. Not only that, but as the top Wild Card team, they get to host the Wild Card round, with all three games played in front of the Wrigley Field faithful.

Before we can discuss the Postseason, the Cubs had one more order of business to take care of as the regular season finale with the St. Louis Cardinals (78-84) took place on Sunday afternoon. As expected, this was one of those games where both teams treated it like a Spring Training game, as the goal for the Cubs was to get their work in and stay healthy.

Not only did the Cubs get their work in, but they did so in relatively easy fashion as the Cubs took care of the Cardinals 2-0 to close out the weekend sweep. Given the situation, Javier Assad was the only choice to start in this one, and the Cubs are sure happy they elected to give him the ball.

While this season has been a disappointment with only eight appearances due to injuries, Assad picked the perfect time to deliver his best start of the season as he had the Cardinals guessing from the first pitch on. Not known as a strikeout pitcher, you wouldn't have thought that based on this performance as Assad struck out six across 5 1/3 scoreless frames before yielding to the pen.

It's those types of appearances that could make Assad a valuable asset to the postseason roster, but don't expect him to pitch in the Wild Card series after his outing today. Facing off against Assad was right-hander Kyle Leahy, who was auditioning for a spot in the 2026 rotation. Even if he only lasted three innings, allowing just a third-inning single to Pete Crow-Armstrong, it was the overall work that stood out as he struck out one before his day game came to an end.

You could tell this was one of those games where both teams wanted it to end just as quickly as it began, as both teams combined for four total hits through four innings. Assad allowed two of those hits, but managed to escape without trouble as his third-inning double play ended quite possibly the Cardinals' first scoring chance of the game.

It wasn't until the fifth inning when the games first run came in to score as Seiya Suzuki went deep again for his 32nd homer to put the Cubs in front 1-0. For Suzuki, that was his fourth homer in as many games, as he is getting on one of his famous heaters at the perfect time. The Cubs hope he can keep this momentum going into the Postseason as they will desperately need his bat come October.

After retiring the first batter he faced in the fifth, Assad saw his day come to an end as Michael Soroka took over and threw seven pitches to record the next two outs. He was replaced by Jordan Wicks in the seventh, who finished things off for the Cubs on the mound as their pitching set the tone most of the weekend.

Still holding a 1-0 lead in the seventh, the Cubs were hoping for some late-game insurance, and that insurance came from the kids. It all started with a leadoff single from Kevin Alcantara, who continues to produce in the limited at-bats he gets. The Jaguar eventually reached second on a wild pitch, but after back-to-back strikeouts from Suzuki and Kyle Tucker, the Cubs were on the verge of stranding him at second.

Leave it to Moises Ballesteros to change all that as the big lefty went the opposite way for a single as their lead doubled to 2-0. That would be all the offense they would need as Wicks worked around a one-out double in the ninth to secure the three-inning save, striking out four in those innings to give Chicago the 2-0 victory.

Next up for Chicago is an off day on Monday before Game One of the Wild Card Series on Tuesday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Neither team has announced their starting pitcher, but with Cade Horton on the IL, you have to think that Matthew Boyd will get the ball in game one. Six different players had a hit for the Cubs in this one, as the 92 wins are the most they have had since the 2018 season.