PITTSBURGH -- Not since they won the NL Central crown in 2017 had the Cubs experienced a true postseason celebration before Wednesday.

The team was limited to high-fives and fist bumps after clinching the National League Central title during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, and two years prior, it elected not to party after locking down an NL Wild Card spot, still hoping it could play its way to a division crown that never came. Suffice to say, after punching their ticket to play postseason baseball for the first time in five years with an 8-4 victory over the Pirates Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park, the Cubs made sure to soak in the moment.

While understanding the team still has everything to play for -- including a quest for its fourth World Series title -- manager Craig Counsell

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