The 2008 Chicago Cubs season was the 137th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 133rd in the National League and the 93rd at Wrigley Field. The season began at home on March 31 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs were champions of the National League Central for the second year in a row, accumulating 97 regular season winsâÂÂthe most since 1945. It was the first time since 1908 that the Cubs made postseason appearances in consecutive seasons.
At the All-Star break in July, the Cubs led the NL Central and were tied with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the best record in the major leagues. They tied a National League record with eight players selected to the All-Star team.
On September 20, the Cubs clinched the NL Central championship with a 5âÂÂ4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite their regular season success, the team did not advance past the first round of the playoffs; they were swept 3âÂÂ0 by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.
Lou Piniella, in his second year as the Cubs' manager, won the National League's Manager of the Year Award in 2008. In addition, catcher Geovany Soto won the 2008 National League Rookie of the Year Award.
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || March 31 || Brewers || 4âÂÂ3 <small>(10)</small> || Gagné (1-0) || Howry (0-1) || Riske (1) || 41,089 || 0-1 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200803310.shtml |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 2 || Brewers || 8âÂÂ2 || Suppan (1-0) || Lilly (0-1) || || 39,468 || 0-2 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804020.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 3 || Brewers || 6âÂÂ2 || Dempster (1-0) || Bush (0-1) || Wood (1) || 37,973 || 1-2 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804030.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 4 || Astros || 4âÂÂ3 || Wright (1-0) || Lieber (0-1) || Valverde (1) || 37,812 || 1-3 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804040.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || | 5 || April 5 || Astros || 9âÂÂ7 || Hart (1-0) || Oswalt (0-2) || Wood (2) || 40,707 || 2-3 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804050.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || | 6 || April 6 || Astros || 3âÂÂ2 || Zambrano (1-0) || Villarreal (0-2) || Wood (3) || 40,929 || 3-3 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804060.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || | 7 || April 7 || @ Pirates || 10âÂÂ8 <small>(12)</small> || Lieber (1-1) || Meek (0-1) || Mármol (1) || 37,491 || 4-3 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200804070.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || | 8 || April 9 || @ Pirates || 6âÂÂ4 <small>(15)</small> || Hart (2-0) || Dumatrait (0-1) || Marshall (1) || 9,735 || 5-3 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200804090.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" || | 9 || April 10 || @ Pirates || 7âÂÂ3 || Lieber (2-1) || Morris (0-1) || || 9,798 || 6-3 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200804100.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 11 || @ Phillies || 5âÂÂ3 || Myers (1-1) || Zambrano (1-1) || Lidge (2) || 37,368 || 6-4 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI200804110.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 12 || @ Phillies || 7âÂÂ1 || Hamels (2-1) || Lilly (0-2) || || 45,072 || 6-5 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI200804120.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || April 13 || @ Phillies || 6âÂÂ5 <small>(10)</small> || Wood (1-0) || Seánez (0-1) || Howry (1) || 40,095 || 7-5 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI200804130.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || April 15 || Reds || 9âÂÂ5 || Dempster (2-0) || Harang (1-2) || || 39,130 || 8-5 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804150.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || April 16 || Reds || 12âÂÂ3 || Zambrano (2-1) || Fogg (1-2) || || 40,099 || 9-5 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804160.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 17 || Reds || 9âÂÂ2 || Vólquez (2-0) || Lilly (0-3) || || 39,534 || 9-6 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804170.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 16 || April 18 || Pirates || 3âÂÂ2 || Hill (1-0) || Snell (2-1) || Wood (4) || 39,118 || 10-6 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804180.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || April 19 || Pirates || 13âÂÂ1 || Marquis (1-0) || Gorzelanny (1-2) || || 40,298 || 11-6 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804190.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || April 20 || Pirates || 13âÂÂ6 || Dempster (3-0) || Duke (0-1) || || 41,405 || 12-6 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804200.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 19 || April 21 || Mets || 7âÂÂ1 || Zambrano (3-1) || Maine (1-2) || || 40,582 || 13-6 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804210.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 20 || April 22 || Mets || 8âÂÂ1 || Lilly (1-3) || Figueroa (1-1) || || 40,503 || 14-6 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804220.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 21 || April 23 || @ Rockies || 7âÂÂ6 <small>(10)</small> || Wood (2-0) || Wells (1-1) || Mármol (2) || 36,864 || 15-6 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL200804230.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 24 || @ Rockies || 4âÂÂ2 || Cook (3-1) || Hart (2-1) || Fuentes (1) || 32,791 || 15-7 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL200804240.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 25 || @ Nationals || 5âÂÂ3 || Rauch (2-0) || Howry (0-2) || || 35,154 || 15-8 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS200804250.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || April 26 || @ Nationals || 7âÂÂ0 || Zambrano (4-1) || Chico (0-5) || || 35,188 || 16-8 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS200804260.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || April 27 || @ Nationals || 2âÂÂ0 || Lannan (2-2) || Lilly (1-4) || Rauch (4) || 33,795 || 16-9 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS200804270.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || April 29 || Brewers || 10âÂÂ7 || Sheets (4-0) || Marquis (1-1) || Gagné (8) || 39,543 || 16-10 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804290.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || April 30 || Brewers || 19âÂÂ5 || Dempster (4-0) || Suppan (1-1) || || 39,908 || 17-10 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200804300.shtml |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 1 || Brewers || 4âÂÂ3 || Shouse (2-0) || Wood (2-1) || Gagné (9) || 40,849 || 17-11 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805010.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 2 || @ Cardinals || 5âÂÂ3 <small>(11)</small> || Villone (1-0) || Fox (0-1) || || 45,077 || 17-12 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/STL/STL200805020.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 30 || May 3 || @ Cardinals || 9âÂÂ3 || Lilly (2-4) || Lohse (3-1) || || 46,792 || 18-12 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/STL/STL200805030.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 4 || @ Cardinals || 5âÂÂ3 || Wellemeyer (3-1) || Marquis (1-2) || Isringhausen (10) || 44,969 || 18-13 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/STL/STL200805040.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 5 || @ Reds || 5âÂÂ3 || Cueto (2-3) || Dempster (4-1) || Cordero (5) || 20,289 || 18-14 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN200805050.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || May 6 || @ Reds || 3âÂÂ0 ||Zambrano (5-1) || Harang (1-5) || Wood (5) || 21,153 || 19-14 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN200805060.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 7 || @ Reds || 9âÂÂ0 || Vólquez (5-1) || Lieber (2-2) || || 28,418 || 19-15 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN200805070.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || May 9 || D-backs || 3âÂÂ1 ||Lilly (3-4) || Haren (4-2) || Wood (6) || 40,236 || 20-15 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805090.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 36 || May 10 || D-backs || 7âÂÂ2 || Eyre (1-0) || Qualls (0-4) || || 41,597 || 21-15 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805100.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 37 || May 11 || D-backs || 6âÂÂ4 || Mármol (1-0) || Peña (0-1) || Wood (7) || 39,740 || 22-15 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805110.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 38 || May 12 || Padres || 12âÂÂ3 || Zambrano (6-1) || Wolf (2-3) || || 39,528 || 23-15 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805120.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 13 || Padres || 4âÂÂ3 || Estes (1-0) || Marquis (1-3) || Hoffman (7) || 40,028 || 23-16 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805130.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 40 || May 14 || Padres || 8âÂÂ5 || Lilly (4-4) || Peavy (4-3) || || 39,650 || 24-16 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805140.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 41 || May 15 || Padres || 4âÂÂ0 || Dempster (5-1) || Maddux (3-4) || Wood (8) || 40,629 || 25-16 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805150.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 42 || May 16 || Pirates || 7âÂÂ4 || Gallagher (1-0) || Gorzelanny (3-4) || Wood (9) || 40,537 || 26-16 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805160.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 17 || Pirates || 7âÂÂ6 || Marte (3-0) || Mármol (1-1) || Capps (10) || 41,686 || 26-17 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805170.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || May 18 || Pirates || 4âÂÂ3 || Marquis (2-3) || Dumatrait (1-2) || Wood (10)|| 41,321 || 27-17 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805180.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || May 19 || @ Astros || 7âÂÂ2 || Lilly (5-4) || Moehler (1-1) || || 32,458 || 28-17 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200805190.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 20 || @ Astros || 4âÂÂ2 || Sampson (3-3) || Dempster (5-2) || Valverde (13) || 33,339 || 28-18 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200805200.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || May 21 || @ Astros || 5âÂÂ3 || Chacón (0-1) || Gallagher (1-1) || Valverde (14) || 33,251 || 28-19 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200805210.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || May 23 || @ Pirates || 12âÂÂ3 || Zambrano (7-1)|| Duke (2-3) || || 32,656 || 29-19 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200805230.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 24 || @ Pirates || 5âÂÂ4 <small>(14)</small> || Grabow (4-1) || Wuertz (0-1) || || 29,929 || 29-20 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200805240.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 25 || @ Pirates || 6âÂÂ5 <small>(11)</small> || Marte (4-0) || Lieber (2-3) || || 29,415 || 29-21 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200805250.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 51 || May 26 || Dodgers || 3âÂÂ1 || Dempster (6-2) || Billingsley (4-6) || Wood (11) || 41,583 || 30-21 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805260.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 52 || May 27 || Dodgers || 3âÂÂ1 || Gallagher (2-1) || Kuroda (2-4) || Wood (12) || 39,894 || 31-21 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805270.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 53 || May 28 || Dodgers || 2âÂÂ1 <small>(10)</small> || Howry (1-2) || Park (1-1) || || 39,945 || 32-21 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805280.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 54 || May 29 || Rockies || 8âÂÂ4 || Wuertz (1-1) || Herges (2-2) || || 39,851 || 33-21 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805290.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 55 || May 30 || Rockies || 10âÂÂ9 || Eyre (2-0) || Corpas (0-3) || Wood (13) || 39,686 || 34-21 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805300.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 56 || May 31 || Rockies || 5âÂÂ4 || Dempster (7-2) || Rusch (1-3) || Mármol (3) || 41,529 || 35-21 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805310.shtml |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 57 || June 1 || Rockies || 5âÂÂ3 || Gallagher (3-1) || Jiménez (1-6) || Wood (14) || 41,730 || 36-21 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200806010.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 58 || June 2 || @ Padres || 7âÂÂ6 || Zambrano (8-1) || Baek (0-2) || Wood (15) || 30,259 || 37-21 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200806020.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 59 || June 3 || @ Padres || 9âÂÂ6 || Marquis (3-3) || Corey (1-1) || Wood (16) || 24,477 || 38-21 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200806030.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 4 || @ Padres || 2âÂÂ1 || Bell (3-3) || Lilly (5-5) || Hoffman (12) || 25,258 || 38-22 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200806040.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || June 5 || @ Dodgers || 5âÂÂ4 || Howry (2-2) || Saito (3-2) || Wood (17) || 44,988 || 39-22 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200806050.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 6 || @ Dodgers || 3âÂÂ0 || Kuroda (3-5) || Gallagher (3-2) || || 52,484 || 39-23 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200806060.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 7 || @ Dodgers || 7âÂÂ3 || Lowe (4-5) || Zambrano (8-2) || || 50,020 || 39-24 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200806070.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 64 || June 8 || @ Dodgers || 3âÂÂ1 || Marquis (4-3) || Penny (5-8) || Wood (18) || 49,994 || 40-24 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200806080.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 65 || June 10 || Braves || 10âÂÂ5 || Lilly (6-5) || Glavine (2-3) || || 41,624 || 41-24 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200806100.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 66 || June 11 || Braves || 7âÂÂ2 || Dempster (8-2)|| Bennett (0-4) || || 41,497 || 42-24 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200806110.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 67 || June 12 || Braves || 3âÂÂ2 <small>(11)</small> || Wood (3-1) || Acosta (3-5) || || 41,517 || 43-24 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200806120.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 13 || @ Blue Jays || 3âÂÂ2 || Burnett (6-6) || Gallagher (3-3) || Ryan (14)|| 27,803 || 43-25 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR200806130.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 69 || June 14 || @ Blue Jays || 6âÂÂ2 || Marquis (5-3)|| Halladay (8-6) || || 34,048 || 44-25 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR200806140.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 70 || June 15 || @ Blue Jays || 7âÂÂ4 || Lilly (7-5) || Litsch (7-3) || || 40,738 || 45-25 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR200806150.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 17 || @ Rays || 3âÂÂ2 || Balfour (1-0) || Cotts (0-1) || Percival (16) || 31,607 || 45-26 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA200806170.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 18 || @ Rays || 5âÂÂ4 || Sonnanstine (8-3) || Zambrano (8-3) || Percival (17) || 31,496 || 45-27 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA200806180.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 19 || @ Rays || 8âÂÂ3 || Balfour (2-0) || Mármol (1-2) || || 34,441 || 45-28 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA200806190.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 74 || June 20 || White Sox || 4âÂÂ3 || Wood (4-1) || Linebrink (2-2) || || 41,106 || 46-28 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200806200.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 75 || June 21 || White Sox || 11âÂÂ7 || Marquis (6-3) || Contreras (6-6) || Wood (19) || 41,021 || 47-28 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200806210.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 76 || June 22 || White Sox || 7âÂÂ1 || Dempster (9-2) || Vázquez (7-6) || || 41,034 || 48-28 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200806220.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || June 24 || Orioles || 7âÂÂ5 || Guthrie (4-7) || Marshall (0-1) || Sherrill (26) || 41,357 || 48-29 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200806240.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor=bbffbb | 78 || June 25 || Orioles || 7âÂÂ4 || Lilly (8-5) || Albers (3-3) || Wood (20) || 40,754 || 49-29 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200806250.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || June 26 || Orioles || 11âÂÂ4 || Liz (2-0) || Marquis (6-4) || || 41,670 || 49-30 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200806260.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || June 27 || @ White Sox || 10âÂÂ3 || Contreras (7-6) || Dempster (9-3) || || 39,132 || 49-31 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA200806270.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || June 28 || @ White Sox || 6âÂÂ5 || Thornton (4-1) || Mármol (1-3) || Jenks (18) || 39,143 || 49-32 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA200806280.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 82 || June 29 || @ White Sox || 5âÂÂ1 || Buehrle (6-6) || Marshall (0-2) || || 39,573 || 49-33 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA200806290.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 83 || June 30 || @ Giants || 9âÂÂ2 || Lilly (9-5)|| Zito (3-12) || || 35,311 || 50-33 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200806300.shtml |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 1 || @ Giants || 2âÂÂ1 || Cain (5-6) || Marquis (6-5) || Wilson (23)|| 33,858 || 50-34 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200807010.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 85 || July 2 || @ Giants || 6âÂÂ5 || Mármol (2-3) || Walker (3-4) || Wood (21) || 41,345 || 51-34 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200807020.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 3 || @ Giants || 8âÂÂ3 || Lincecum (10-1) || Gallagher (3-4) || || 40,511 || 51-35 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200807030.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 87 || July 4 || @ Cardinals || 2âÂÂ1 || Zambrano (9-3) || Looper (9-6)|| Wood (22) || 46,450 || 52-35 ||https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200807040.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || July 5 || @ Cardinals || 5âÂÂ4 || McClellan (1-3) || Wood (4-2) || || 46,865 || 52-36 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200807050.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 89 || July 6 || @ Cardinals || 7âÂÂ1 || Marshall (1-2) || Wellemeyer (7-4) || || 46,752 || 53-36 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200807060.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 90 || July 8 || Reds || 7âÂÂ3 || Dempster (10-3) || Harang (3-11) || || 41,360 || 54-36 ||https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200807080.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 91 || July 9 || Reds || 5âÂÂ1 || Zambrano (10-3) || Cueto (7-9) || Wood (23) || 41,605 || 55-36 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200807090.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 10 || Reds || 12âÂÂ7 || Arroyo (7-7) || Lilly (9-6) || || 41,459 || 55-37 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200807100.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 93 || July 11 || Giants || 3âÂÂ1 || Howry (3-2) || Walker (3-5) || Wood (24) || 41,605 || 56-37 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200807110.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 94 || July 12 || Giants || 8âÂÂ7 <small>(11)</small> || Marshall (2-2) || Wilson (0-2) || || 41,555 || 57-37 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200807120.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 13 || Giants || 4âÂÂ2 || Lincecum (11-2) || Dempster (10-4) || Wilson (25) || 41,574 || 57-38 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200807130.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 96 || July 18 || @ Astros || 2âÂÂ1 || Geary (2-1) || Howry (3-3) || || 42,368 || 57-39 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200807180.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 97 || July 19 || @ Astros || 4âÂÂ1 || RodrÃÂguez (5-3) || Zambrano (10-4) || Valverde (25) || 43,129 || 57-40 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200807180.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 98 || July 20 || @ Astros || 9âÂÂ0 || Dempster (11-4) || Backe (6-10) || || 41,461 || 58-40 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200807200.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 99 || July 21 || @ D-backs || 2âÂÂ0 || Johnson (7-7) || Harden (5-2) || Qualls (2) || 34,627 || 58-41 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI200807210.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 100 || July 22 || @ D-backs || 9âÂÂ2 || Petit (1-1) || Marquis (6-6) || || 35,337 || 58-42 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI200807220.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 101 || July 23 || @ D-backs || 10âÂÂ6 || Lilly (10-6) || Davis (3-5) || || 37,301 || 59-42 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI200807230.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 102 || July 24 || Marlins || 6âÂÂ3 || Zambrano (11-4) || Olsen (6-5) || Mármol (4) || 41,482 || 60-42 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200807240.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 103 || July 25 || Marlins || 3âÂÂ2 || Miller (3-2) || Howry (3-4) || Gregg (21) || 41,570 || 60-43 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200807250.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || July 26 || Marlins || 3âÂÂ2 <small>(12)</small> || Miller (4-2) || Gaudin (5-4) || Gregg (22) || 41,471 || 60-44 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200807260.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 105 || July 27 || Marlins || 9âÂÂ6 || Gaudin (6-4) || <small>Hendrickson</small> (7-8) || Samardzija (1) || 41,017 || 61-44 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200807270.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 106 || July 28 || @ Brewers || 6âÂÂ4 || Gaudin (7-4) || Torres (5-3) || Mármol (5) || 45,311 || 62-44 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL200807280.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 107 || July 29 || @ Brewers || 7âÂÂ1 || Zambrano (12-4) || Sheets (10-4) || || 45,069 || 63-44 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL200807290.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 108 || July 30 || @ Brewers || 7âÂÂ2 || Dempster (12-4) || Parra (9-4) || || 44,871 || 64-44 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL200807300.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 109 || July 31 || @ Brewers || 11âÂÂ4 || Harden (6-2) || Bush (5-9) || || 45,346 || 65-44 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL200807310.shtml |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 110 || August 1 || Pirates || 3âÂÂ0 || Karstens (1-0) || Marquis (6-7) || Grabow (1) || 41,340 || 65-45 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808010.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 111 || August 2 || Pirates || 5âÂÂ1 || Lilly (11-6) || Maholm (7-7) || || 41,426 || 66-45 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808020.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 112 || August 3 || Pirates || 8âÂÂ5 || Gaudin (8-4) || Hansen (1-4) || Mármol (6) || 41,200 || 67-45 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808030.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 113 || August 4 || Astros || 2âÂÂ0 <small>(8)</small>|| Moehler (7-4) || Dempster (12-5) || Hawkins (1) || 40,867 || 67-46 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808040.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 114 || August 5 || Astros || 11âÂÂ7 || Howry (4-4) || Sampson (5-4) || || 40,416 || 68-46 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808050.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 115 || August 6 || Astros || 11âÂÂ4 || Marquis (7-7) || Backe (6-11) || || 41,107 || 69-46 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808060.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 116 || August 8 || Cardinals || 3âÂÂ2 <small>(11)</small> || Howry (5-4) || Franklin (4-5) || || 41,539 || 70-46 ||https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808080.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 117 || August 9 || Cardinals || 12âÂÂ3 || Wellemeyer (9-4) || Zambrano (12-5) || || 41,436 || 70-47|| https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808090.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 118 || August 10 || Cardinals || 6âÂÂ2 || Dempster (13-5) || Carpenter (0-1) || || 41,268 || 71-47 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808100.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | -- || August 12 || @ Braves || colspan=7|Postponed (rain) <small>Rescheduled for August 13</small> |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 119 || August 13 || @ Braves || 10âÂÂ2 || Marquis (8-7) || Morton (3-6) || || 27,220 || 72-47 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL200808131.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 120 || August 13 || @ Braves || 8âÂÂ0 || Harden (7-2) || Campillo (7-5) || || 33,714 || 73-47 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL200808132.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 121 || August 14 || @ Braves ||11âÂÂ7 || Lilly (12-6) || Glavine (2-4) || || 36,365 || 74-47 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL200808140.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 122 || August 15 || @ Marlins || 6âÂÂ5 || Gaudin (9-4) || Gregg (6-5) || Wood (25) || 28,163 || 75-47 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/FLO/FLO200808150.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 123 || August 16 || @ Marlins || 2âÂÂ1 || Sánchez (2-2) || Marshall (2-3) || Gregg (27) || 39,124 || 75-48 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/FLO/FLO200808160.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 124 || August 17 || @ Marlins || 9âÂÂ2 || Dempster (14-5) || Pinto (2-5) || || 19,085 || 76-48 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/FLO/FLO200808170.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 125 || August 19 || Reds || 5âÂÂ0 || Harden (8-2) || Cueto (8-12) || || 41,208 || 77-48 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808190.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 126 || August 20 || Reds || 2âÂÂ1 || Arroyo (11-10) || Lilly (12-7) || Cordero (24) || 40,509 || 77-49 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808200.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 127 || August 21 || Reds || 3âÂÂ2 || Zambrano (13-5) || Fogg (2-6) || Wood (26) || 40,370 || 78-49 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808210.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 128 || August 22 || Nationals || 13âÂÂ5 || Lannan (7-12) || Cotts (0-2) || || 40,513 || 78-50 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808220.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 129 || August 23 || Nationals || 9âÂÂ2 || Dempster (15-5) || Pérez (5-10) || || 40,708 || 79-50 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808230.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 130 || August 24 || Nationals || 6âÂÂ1 || Harden (9-2) || Bergmann (2-10) || || 40,682 || 80-50 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808240.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 131 || August 25 || @ Pirates || 12âÂÂ3 || Lilly (13-7) || Karstens (2-3) || || 14,454 || 81-50 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200808250.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 132 || August 26 || @ Pirates || 14âÂÂ9 || Marshall (3-3) || Hansen (1-5) || || 17,929 || 82-50 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200808260.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 133 || August 27 || @ Pirates || 2âÂÂ0 || Marquis (9-7) || Duke (4-13) || Wood (27) || 15,260 || 83-50 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT200808270.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 134 || August 28 || Phillies || 6âÂÂ4 || Howry (6-4) || Durbin (5-3) || Wood (28) || 40,362 || 84-50 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808280.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 135 || August 29 || Phillies || 3âÂÂ2 || Samardzija (1-0) || Condrey (3-4) || Mármol (7) || 40,844 || 85-50 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808290.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 136 || August 30 || Phillies || 5âÂÂ2 || Myers (8-10) || Lilly (13-8) || Lidge (32) || 41,511 || 85-51 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808300.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 137 || August 31 || Phillies || 5âÂÂ3 || Moyer (12-7) || Marshall (3-4) || Lidge (33) || 41,544 || 85-52 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808310.shtml |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 138 || September 1 || Astros || 3âÂÂ0 || Oswalt (13-9) || Marquis (9-8) || Valverde (38) || 40,670 || 85-53 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200809010.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 139 || September 2 || Astros || 9âÂÂ7 <small>(11)</small> || Wright (4-3) || Wood (4-3) || Valverde (39) || 39,846 || 85-54 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200809020.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 140 || September 3 || Astros || 4âÂÂ0 || Wolf (9-11) || Dempster (15-6) || || 40,163 || 85-55 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200809030.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 141 || September 5 || @ Reds || 10âÂÂ2 || Arroyo (14-10) || Lilly (13-9) || || 31,213 || 85-56 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN200809050.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 142 || September 6 || @ Reds || 14âÂÂ9 || Marquis (10-8) || Cueto (8-13) || || 41,204 || 86-56 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN200809060.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 143 || September 7 || @ Reds || 4âÂÂ3 || Cordero (5-4) || Wood (4-4) || || 37,540 || 86-57 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN200809070.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 144 || September 9 || @ Cardinals || 4âÂÂ3 || Perez (3-2) || Mármol (2-4) || || 43,806 || 86-58 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200809090.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 145 || September 10 || @ Cardinals || 4âÂÂ3 || Lilly (14-9) || Looper (12-12) || Wood (29) || 43,955 || 87-58 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200809100.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 146 || September 11 || @ Cardinals || 3âÂÂ2 || Harden (9-2) || Wellemeyer (12-7) || Wood (30) || 44,155 || 88-58 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200809110.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | -- || September 12 || @ Astros || Colspan=7|Postponed (Hurricane Ike) <small>Rescheduled for September 15 @ Milwaukee</small> |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | -- || September 13 || @ Astros || Colspan=7|Postponed (Hurricane Ike) <small>Rescheduled for September 29, if necessary</small> |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 147 || September 14 || @ Astros<br>at Miller Park || 5âÂÂ0 || Zambrano (14-5) || Wolf (10-12) || || 23,441 || 89-58 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200809140.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 148 || September 15 || @ Astros<br>at Miller Park || 6âÂÂ1 || Lilly (15-9) || Moehler (11-7) || || 15,158 || 90-58 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200809150.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 149 || September 16 || Brewers || 5âÂÂ4 || Dempster (16-6) || Sabathia (15-8) || Wood (31) || 40,738 || 91-58 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200809160.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 150 || September 17 || Brewers || 6âÂÂ2 || DiFelice (1-0) || Marquis (10-9) || || 41,200 || 91-59 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200809170.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 151 || September 18 || Brewers || 7âÂÂ6 || Wood (5-4) || Villanueva (4-7) || || 40,678 || 92-59 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200809180.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 152 || September 19 || Cardinals || 12âÂÂ6 || Wainwright (10-3) || Zambrano (14-6) || || 40,972 || 92-60 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200809190.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 153 || September 20 || Cardinals || 5âÂÂ4 || Lilly (16-9) || Piñeiro (6-7) || Wood (32) || 41,597 || 93-60 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200809200.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 154 || September 21 || Cardinals || 5âÂÂ1 || Dempster (17-6) || Looper (12-14) || || 40,551 || 94-60 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200809210.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 155 || September 22 || @ Mets || 9âÂÂ5 || Marquis (11-9) || Niese (1-1) || Wood (33) || 51,137 || 95-60 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200809220.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 156 || September 23 || @ Mets || 6âÂÂ2 || Santana (15-7) || Gaudin (9-5) || Ayala (9) || 50,615 || 95-61 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200809230.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 157 || September 24 || @ Mets || 9âÂÂ6 || Howry (7-4) || Ayala (2-10) || Wood (34) || 54,416 || 96-61 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200809240.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 158 || September 25 || @ Mets || 7âÂÂ6 || Smith (6-3) || Hart (2-2) || || 51,174 || 96-62 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200809250.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 159 || September 26 || @ Brewers || 5âÂÂ1 || McClung (6-6) || Marshall (3-5) || || 44,084 || 96-63 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL200809260.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 160 || September 27 || @ Brewers || 7âÂÂ3 || Lilly (17-9) || Sheets (13-9) || || 45,288 || 97-63 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL200809270.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 161 || September 28 || @ Brewers || 3âÂÂ1 || Sabathia (17-10) || Howry (7-5) || || 45,299 || 97-64 || https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL200809280.shtml |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | 162 || September 29 || @ Astros || Colspan=7|Cancelled due to the Astros being eliminated from playoff contention and the Cubs having already won the NL Central. |-
|- style="text-align:center;" | Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement/Cancellation<br>Bold = Cubs team member
In 2007, Ernie Banks had requested that Evanston, Illinois native Eddie Vedder write the Cubs a song, and in August 2008 Vedder recorded "All the Way", which was released on September 18, 2008. During the season, a new version of "Go, Cubs, Go" was recorded and released by the Manic Sewing Circle, although the original 1984 Steve Goodman version became the official Cubs victory song.
The Chicago Cubs were eliminated from the playoffs after Los Angeles won the series, 3-0.
The Cubs' Game 3 loss to the Dodgers marked the franchise's ninth consecutive post-season defeat, dating back to the 2003 NLCS.
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
<small>LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Daytona</small>