Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals

Lore & Background

They entered the season as the two-time defending National League champions, and two-time defending World Series champions. They look to become the first team to three-peat since the 2000 New York Yankees, as well as the first National League team to accomplish this feat.

In Their Own Story

The air at Wrigley Field hung thick with humidity and the scent of roasted peanuts as the bottom of the ninth approached. The score was tied, a familiar tension that had gripped Chicago since spring. In the dugout, the Cubs' manager watched the Cardinals' cleanup hitter step into the box, his eyes narrowing not just at the pitcher, but at the sea of red jerseys invading the visiting section. A roar erupted from the St. Louis faithful, a sound that seemed to vibrate through the ivy-covered brick walls. The pitch crossed the plate—a strike three call that sent the Cardinals' fans into a frenzy and the Cubs' faithful into a collective groan. It was another chapter in a book written over a century ago, where every at-bat felt less like a game and more like a skirmish for territory.

Reader's Guide

This was the Dodgers first season since 2007 to not include pitcher Clayton Kershaw on the active roster, as he retired after the 2025 season. This will also be the last season for utilityman and 2025 World Series hero, Miguel Rojas, who will join the front office after the season.

Did You Know?

• During the off-season the Dodgers struck a five-year / $125 million+ deal with Japanese designer and retailer Uniqlo to rename the playing field at Dodger Stadium to 'Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium'.
• On December 3, the Dodgers Senior Vice-President of Baseball Operations Josh Byrnes left the team to become the General Manager of the Colorado Rockies.
• Nine Dodgers players were chosen to represent countries during the World Baseball Classic, including Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Japan.