Plus: Chicago White Sox in the playoffs: Schedule set for AL Division Series vs. Cleveland Guardians • Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson declines to name a starting QB for Week 4, saying ‘3 guys’ are under consideration
Sports Thursday, October 1, 2026 | | |
| | | | | Good morning, Chicago. Welcome to October — with one Chicago baseball team still alive in the postseason. For the first time in 21 years, the White Sox won a playoff series, sweeping the Astros in a best-of-three American League wild-card series in Houston. Next up: the Guardians in a best-of-five AL Division Series beginning Saturday in Cleveland. The series is a 2-2-1 format, and all games will air on TBS and HBO Max. White Sox players, coaches and staff gather for a group photograph after a 7-3 win over the Astros in Game 2 of the wild-card series to advance to the American League Division Series on Sept. 30, 2026, in Houston. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) The Cubs, just as the clock hit midnight, ended their 2026 season with a dud. After a year defined by extreme highs and lows, the Cubs played from behind in all but one inning and were swept in a National League wild-card series against the Padres with a 4-1 loss at Petco Park. “Horrible,” Alex Bregman said. “The goal is to win and we didn’t play well enough to do that. So it’s time to look in the mirror and get better and I know myself and a lot of these guys will be thinking about it every day of the offseason and let it fuel us. Just not good enough. Need to get better in all areas.” | | | | The Chicago Cubs were eliminated from an NL wild-card series against the San Diego Padres, falling 4-1 late Wednesday. The Cubs had only one extra-base hit in the two-game sweep. | | | | | The Chicago White Sox will face the Cleveland Guardians in a best-of-five AL Division Series beginning Saturday. The Sox won the season series against their division rival 7-6. | | | | | Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson suggested that Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum are all possibilities to start vs. the New York Jets. | | | | | Chase Meidroth hit a three-run home run to break open a close game, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros 7-3 to complete a sweep of the AL wild-card series Wednesday. | | | | | The Chicago White Sox’s first postseason series win since the 2005 World Series vindicated Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf for promoting Chris Getz to general manager. | | | | | Matas Buzelis spent the last two seasons advocating for his midrange shot. Will he get to take it more often under a new Chicago Bulls regime? | | | | | The Chicago Blackhawks and Utah Mammoth have played each other only eight times. The series renews Thursday night in the Mammoth’s season opener in Salt Lake City. | | | | | Check out details on the new Ryan Field, including special features, food options, ticket prices and more. | | | |
