The Chicago Cubs want to make sure everything is OK with rookie right-hander Cade Horton, who could start one of their wild-card games next week.

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a two-run shot to become the first Cubs player with 30 homers, 30 doubles and 30 stolen bases in a season as Chicago pounded the St. Louis Cardinals 12-1 on Friday

The Detroit Tigers have squandered a double-digit division lead over the Cleveland Guardians in just three weeks. The New York Mets are barely clinging to their wild-card spot, the Houston Astros are suddenly on the outside looking in, and every other team seems flawed in some way.

Since 2016, when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, the team has not played their best to finish a season, especially against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs have struggled to win games at the end of the season at Wrigley and against the Cardinals.

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a two-run shot to become the first Cubs player with 30 homers, 30 doubles and 30 stolen bases in a season, Seiya Suzuki iced the game with a grand slam and Chicago pounded the St.

Jonah Tong wasn’t the answer Wednesday night, only underscoring the risk of thrusting an unproven rookie into the pressure cooker of a pennant race.

One thing has appeared clear for a couple of weeks. The Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres are likely to play each other in the NL wild card playoffs. Now,

Five of the six wild-card spots in the American and National Leagues are still up for grabs entering the final week of the MLB regular season.