After reaching the playoffs last season, the 2026 season has been special for the Chicago Cubs so far.
Chicago has the feel of a potential World Series contender, and the team has started to play much better of late. The Cubs have gone 6-4 over their last 10 games overall, with multiple guys putting together some strong performances.
Overall, Chicago owns a record of 74-54 for the season, sitting in second place within the National League Central. The Cubs trail the first-place Milwaukee Brewers by five games, giving them a slim chance to catch up as the year goes on.
Due to the strength of the NL as a whole, the Cubs will be looking to get into the playoffs as a wild-card team. But this won’t be easy either, with the field very crowded heading into the final few weeks of the year.
However, there are ways for Chicago to gain an edge, with one of them being to call up a talented prospect to help bolster the roster. The Cubs have a few solid choices to pick from, but there seems to be one in mind who could make a difference.
Should Cubs Call Up Slugger?
MLB.com analysts Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis, and Sam Dykstra have urged the Cubs to call up slugger Owen Ayers before the postseason. Ayers has spent time between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A this season, showing strong growth over time.
The slugger is currently ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Cubs system, and it could be smart for Chicago to get him some reps. At Triple-A this year, Ayers has hit .272 with two home runs, 12 RBIs, and 17 walks drawn, while posting an OPS of .765.
Ayers could be a solid addition to the Cubs’ postseason chase, offering the team another power bat for the lineup. He has also shown some versatility, playing catcher, first base, and even some corner outfield.
The Cubs have a quality catching tandem with Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya, and they may not have a lot of at-bats to give a newcomer. But Ayers’ right-handed power and ability to catch while also handling first base and perhaps the outfield corners could make him useful down the stretch,” Mayo, Callis, and Dykstra wrote.
Should the Cubs Call up Owen Ayers?
With Ayers being a switch-hitter, he could potentially offer the Cubs more flexibility when building out rosters. Ayers’ bat could be a nice addition to this group as the season winds down, and he could give some of the more veteran guys some extra rest before the playoff start.
Chicago could use the extra depth across the roster, helping to further push this team toward the playoffs. And if Ayers were to perform well, the team could elect to keep him on the roster entering the playoffs.
But if the Cubs want Ayers to be eligible for the postseason, he would need to be added to the 40-man roster before Sept. 1. While it remains to be seen if Chicago will bring up someone like Ayers, the move could be beneficial, helping this club finish the year on a high note entering the postseason.
Cubs Urged to Add 24-HR Slugger to Help Postseason Push