This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/cubs as Chicago Cubs Game Today (9/18/25): Start Time, Pitchers, How To Watch & Live Stream. The Chicago Cubs have secured their playoff berth for the 2025 season. Now, they can play spoiler to the Cincinnati Reds.

“I think that’s a game we should probably win,” Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman said. “We held them to four runs in Coors Field. Our offense is fully capable of scoring (five or more) runs, but they made good pitches when they needed to.”

The Cubs tacked on a run in the fifth off Seiya Suzuki’s sacrifice fly, and the bullpen’s 4 2/3 shutout innings helped them secure a 3-2 win over the Braves. Turner had previously faced Sale only three times before Wednesday, all in a 2019 game, collecting two hits, including a home run.

With the win, the Cubs whittled their magic number down to one — unable to clinch a playoff berth regardless of other results the rest of the night. They would have needed the Giants, Diamondbacks and Reds to all lose in order to cross out every elimination scenario. The Giants and Diamondbacks, how-ever, were playing each other.

The Milwaukee Brewers have a chance to clinch the National League Central on Sept. 21 as they finish their three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Follow along for live updates. TV channel: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin.

The Cubs, on the cusp of clinching home field for the Wild Card series against the Padres, have not been able to take a single digit off the magic number for such things since Friday. It remains at 4 after the Cubs lost to the Reds 1-0 for the second time this weekend, and the Padres defeated the White Sox in Chicago Sunday afternoon.

Hunter Greene took a no-hitter two outs into the seventh before settling for a one-hit, complete-game shutout in a 1-0 Reds win over the Cubs on Thursday night at Great American Ball Park.