The 1996 Chicago Cubs season was the 125th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 121st in the National League and the 81st at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finished fourth in the National League Central with a record of 76–86.
Offseason March 9, 1996: Kent Bottenfield was signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs.
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 1 || Padres || 5–4 (10) || Patterson (1–0) || Hoffman || — || 38,734 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 3 || Padres || 5–7 || Hamilton || Castillo (0–1) || Hoffman || 29,638 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 4 || Dodgers || 9–4 || Foster (1–0) || Astacio || — || 12,626 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 5 || Dodgers || 11–1 || Bullinger (1–0) || Candiotti || — || 19,324 || 3–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 6 || Dodgers || 1–3 || Park || Navarro (0–1) || Worrell || 24,428 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 7 || Dodgers || 5–4 || Jones (1–0) || Osuna || — || 19,002 || 4–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 8 || @ Rockies || 9–6 || Adams (1–0) || Ritz || Jones (1) || 50,185 || 5–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 10 || @ Rockies || 9–10 || Leskanic || Jones (1–1) || — || 50,083 || 5–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 12 || @ Giants || 1–4 || Leiter || Navarro (0–2) || Beck || 45,589 || 5–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 13 || @ Giants || 2–3 (10) || Juden || Myers (0–1) || — || 22,120 || 5–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 14 || @ Giants || 6–2 || Foster (2–0) || Watson || Wendell (1) || 23,137 || 6–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 15 || Reds || 2–3 (10) || Moore || Patterson (1–1) || Brantley || 20,395 || 6–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 16 || Reds || 6–3 || Trachsel (1–0) || Portugal || — || 11,464 || 7–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 17 || Reds || 8–6 (10) || Wendell (1–0) || Ruffin || — || 13,023 || 8–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 18 || Giants || 7–6 || Perez (1–0) || VanLandingham || Wendell (2) || 15,857 || 9–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 19 || Giants || 10–6 || Foster (3–0) || Watson || — || 17,662 || 10–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 20 || Giants || 4–8 || Gardner || Bullinger (1–1) || — || 28,047 || 10–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 21 || Giants || 6–7 || Fernandez || Trachsel (1–1) || Beck || 28,065 || 10–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 22 || Rockies || 2–4 || Freeman || Navarro (0–3) || Leskanic || 21,227 || 10–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 23 || Rockies || 3–4 || Rekar || Castillo (0–2) || Leskanic || 14,325 || 10–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 24 || @ Padres || 4–5 || Hamilton || Foster (3–1) || Hoffman || 15,608 || 10–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 25 || @ Padres || 3–8 || Tewksbury || Bullinger (1–2) || — || 18,736 || 10–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 26 || @ Dodgers || 0–1 || Astacio || Trachsel (1–2) || Worrell || 31,172 || 10–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 27 || @ Dodgers || 4–3 (10) || Navarro (1–3) || Osuna || Jones (2) || 43,519 || 11–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || April 28 || @ Dodgers || 3–0 || Castillo (1–2) || Park || — || 45,441 || 12–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || April 29 || @ Dodgers || 4–10 || Valdez || Foster (3–2) || — || 39,003 || 12–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || April 30 || Cardinals || 7–6 || Wendell (2–0) || Eckersley || — || 20,771 || 13–14
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 1 || Cardinals || 9–3 || Trachsel (2–2) || Benes || — || 25,668 || 14–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 3 || Mets || 4–2 || Navarro (2–3) || Wilson || — || 19,822 || 15–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 4 || Mets || 3–7 || Jones || Castillo (1–3) || Henry || 30,041 || 15–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 5 || Mets || 5–4 || Wendell (3–0) || Dipoto || — || 25,949 || 16–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 6 || @ Expos || 2–6 || Martinez || Bullinger (1–3) || — || 46,893 || 16–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 7 || @ Expos || 3–8 || Veres || Adams (1–1) || — || 13,236 || 16–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 8 || @ Expos || 2–4 || Cormier || Navarro (2–4) || Rojas || 12,484 || 16–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 10 || @ Mets || 0–2 || Jones || Castillo (1–4) || Franco || 16,687 || 16–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 11 || @ Mets || 6–7 || Henry || Jones (1–2) || — || 23,237 || 16–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 12 || @ Mets || 3–0 || Bullinger (2–3) || Clark || — || 19,122 || 17–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 13 || Astros || 6–0 || Trachsel (3–2) || Reynolds || — || 22,610 || 18–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 14 || Astros || 3–6 || Kile || Navarro (2–5) || Jones || 17,562 || 18–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 15 || Astros || 5–7 || Wall || Castillo (1–5) || Jones || 16,093 || 18–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 16 || Astros || 13–1 || Telemaco (1–0) || Drabek || — || 15,902 || 19–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 17 || Marlins || 3–1 || Bullinger (3–3) || Leiter || Wendell (3) || 32,528 || 20–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 18 || Marlins || 2–3 || Burkett || Trachsel (3–3) || Nen || 38,003 || 20–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 19 || Marlins || 7–8 (11) || Mantei || Wendell (3–1) || Nen || 30,420 || 20–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 20 || @ Braves || 1–18 || Avery || Castillo (1–6) || — || 29,984 || 20–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 21 || @ Braves || 4–2 || Telemaco (2–0) || Wohlers || Patterson (1) || 31,045 || 21–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || May 22 || @ Braves || 4–9 || Glavine || Bullinger (3–4) || — || 33,186 || 21–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 24 || @ Astros || 7–8 (10) || Jones || Patterson (1–2) || — || 23,910 || 21–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 25 || @ Astros || 2–5 || Drabek || Navarro (2–6) || Jones || 34,326 || 21–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 26 || @ Astros || 2–7 || Reynolds || Castillo (1–7) || — || 33,245 || 21–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || May 27 || Braves || 1–9 || Glavine || Telemaco (2–1) || — || 33,070 || 21–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || May 29 || Braves || 0–2 || Smoltz || Trachsel (3–4) || — || 30,601 || 21–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || May 31 || @ Marlins || 2–1 || Navarro (3–6) || Rapp || — || 19,552 || 22–31
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || June 1 || @ Marlins || 5–4 (10) || Wendell (4–1) || Mathews || — || 30,133 || 23–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 2 || @ Marlins || 2–3 || Brown || Telemaco (2–2) || Nen || 22,174 || 23–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 3 || Phillies || 4–3 || Patterson (2–2) || Ryan || — || 26,320 || 24–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 4 || Phillies || 3–12 || Williams || Bullinger (3–5) || — || 15,431 || 24–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 5 || Phillies || 9–6 || Adams (2–1) || Borland || Wendell (4) || 18,189 || 25–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 7 || Expos || 3–9 || Fassero || Castillo (1–8) || — || 23,860 || 25–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 8 || Expos || 6–4 || Telemaco (3–2) || Martinez || Wendell (5) || 37,373 || 26–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 9 || Expos || 4–2 || Trachsel (4–4) || Rueter || Wendell (6) || 30,785 || 27–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 10 || @ Phillies || 2–1 || Navarro (4–6) || Mulholland || — || 19,588 || 28–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 11 || @ Phillies || 9–2 || Campbell (1–0) || Munoz || — || 23,220 || 29–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 12 || @ Phillies || 3–4 || Fernandez || Castillo (1–9) || Bottalico || 27,287 || 29–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 13 || Padres || 6–3 (14) || Jones (2–2) || Blair || — || 28,953 || 30–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 14 || Padres || 5–1 || Trachsel (5–4) || Tewksbury || — || 30,877 || 31–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 15 || Padres || 1–2 || Worrell || Navarro (4–7) || Hoffman || 39,465 || 31–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 16 || Padres || 8–4 || Castillo (2–9) || Valenzuela || Bullinger (1) || 33,376 || 32–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 18 || Dodgers || 6–9 || Martinez || Telemaco (3–3) || Worrell || — || 32–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 18 || Dodgers || 7–4 || Campbell (2–0) || Valdez || — || 23,362 || 33–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 19 || Dodgers || 3–4 (13) || Park || Adams (2–2) || Worrell || 28,477 || 33–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 20 || @ Padres || 3–2 || Navarro (5–7) || Worrell || Wendell (7) || 19,969 || 34–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 21 || @ Padres || 1–2 (10) || Hoffman || Wendell (4–2) || — || 49,503 || 34–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 22 || @ Padres || 9–6 (16) || Myers (1–1) || Blair || — || 51,917 || 35–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || June 23 || @ Padres || 4–5 || Hamilton || Telemaco (3–4) || Hoffman || 30,672 || 35–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || June 25 || @ Dodgers || 2–0 || Trachsel (6–4) || Nomo || — || 37,448 || 36–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || June 26 || @ Dodgers || 6–4 || Navarro (6–7) || Candiotti || Adams (1) || 35,200 || 37–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || June 28 || @ Reds || 4–7 || Smiley || Castillo (2–10) || Smith || 27,864 || 37–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || June 29 || @ Reds || 5–9 || Portugal || Bullinger (3–6) || — || 32,273 || 37–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || June 30 || @ Reds || 6–0 || Trachsel (7–4) || Burba || — || 30,352 || 38–42
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 1 || @ Pirates || 1–4 || Darwin || Navarro (6–8) || Plesac || 15,910 || 38–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 2 || @ Pirates || 15–7 || Telemaco (4–4) || Wagner || — || 13,241 || 39–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 3 || @ Pirates || 2–3 || Neagle || Castillo (2–11) || Plesac || 22,157 || 39–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 4 || Reds || 1–2 || Portugal || Bullinger (3–7) || Brantley || 38,047 || 39–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || July 5 || Reds || 0–3 || Burba || Trachsel (7–5) || Brantley || 40,743 || 39–46 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 86 || July 6 || Reds || 6–2 || Patterson (3–2) || Carrasco || — || 38,690 || 40–46 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 7 || Reds || 7–6 (13) || Sturtze (1–0) || Ruffin || — || 36,352 || 41–46 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 11 || Cardinals || 6–0 || Navarro (7–8) || Osborne || — || 38,802 || 42–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 89 || July 12 || Cardinals || 3–13 || Benes || Trachsel (7–6) || — || 38,918 || 42–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || July 13 || Cardinals || 5–10 || Stottlemyre || Bullinger (3–8) || Eckersley || 39,254 || 42–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 14 || Cardinals || 6–7 || Benes || Adams (2–3) || Eckersley || 38,638 || 42–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 92 || July 15 || Pirates || 12–2 || Castillo (3–11) || Miceli || — || 32,119 || 43–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 93 || July 16 || Pirates || 5–10 || Neagle || Navarro (7–9) || — || 26,502 || 43–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 94 || July 18 || @ Cardinals || 6–5 || Bottenfield (1–0) || Petkovsek || Wendell (8) || 38,983 || 44–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 19 || @ Cardinals || 1–9 || Benes || Castillo (3–12) || — || 45,336 || 44–51 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 96 || July 20 || @ Cardinals || 3–0 || Trachsel (8–6) || Morgan || Wendell (9) || 50,418 || 45–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 97 || July 21 || @ Cardinals || 5–6 (10) || Petkovsek || Wendell (4–3) || — || 42,257 || 45–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 98 || July 22 || @ Giants || 2–3 || Bautista || Bottenfield (1–1) || — || 12,902 || 45–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || July 23 || @ Giants || 9–6 || Myers (2–1) || DeLucia || Patterson (2) || 15,878 || 46–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 100 || July 24 || @ Giants || 7–1 || Castillo (4–12) || VanLandingham || — || 13,695 || 47–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 101 || July 25 || @ Rockies || 10–8 || Bottenfield (2–1) || Ruffin || Patterson (3) || 48,087 || 48–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 102 || July 26 || @ Rockies || 17–4 || Navarro (8–9) || Freeman || Adams (2) || 48,062 || 49–53 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 103 || July 27 || @ Rockies || 6–10 || Thompson || Telemaco (4–5) || — || 48,096 || 49–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 104 || July 28 || @ Rockies || 7–5 || Bullinger (4–8) || Ritz || Bottenfield (1) || 48,073 || 50–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 105 || July 30 || Giants || 4–0 || Castillo (5–12) || VanLandingham || Adams (3) || 37,424 || 51–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"