PITTSBURGH — Pop the champagne bottles: The Chicago Cubs are heading to the postseason.

The Cubs clinched a playoff spot Wednesday with their 8-4 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s their first postseason berth since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and first in a full season since 2018.

They’re well positioned to host a wild-card series beginning Sept. 30 at Wrigley Field. The Cubs (88-64) hold a 5½-game lead over the San Diego Padres for the top National League wild-card spot — and No. 4 NL playoff seed — entering the Padres’ game Wednesday night in New York against the Mets.

Six months after opening the season at the Tokyo Dome , the Cubs’ challenging journey to get back to the playoffs culminated at PNC Park.

Manager Craig Counsell, in his second year at the helm, expected

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