The San Diego Padres are poised to seal their NL Wild Card series against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park on Wednesday night after an 8-0 rout in Game 1. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado each launched first-inning home runs to set the tone, while Michael King held the Cubs hitless through six-plus innings, limiting Chicago to just three singles in a dominant pitching performance.
Game 2 begins at 10 p.m. ET, with the Padres sending right-hander Nick Pivetta to the mound. Pivetta has returned from an elbow injury that sidelined him most of the season and has looked strong in recent outings. He suffered a loss against the Cubs in last year’s Wild Card game, but now has the chance to help San Diego close out the series in front of their home crowd.
The Cubs will counter with veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman, who brings considerable postseason experience. Gausman, 35, was instrumental in the Toronto Blue Jays’ run to the World Series last fall and holds a 3.83 ERA across 14 playoff appearances since 2014. Chicago will need his best effort if they want to avoid elimination.
NBCSN will broadcast the game, with live streaming available on Peacock and fubo. Dave Flemming will provide play-by-play alongside analysts Jim Deshaies, Mark Grant, and Clayton Kershaw. The action is set to kick off at 7 p.m. local time in San Diego.
The Padres’ strong start in Game 1 has put them in position to avenge last year’s Wild Card defeat to the Cubs. With a win Wednesday, they will advance to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the next round. Chicago, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround and must find offense early against Pivetta.
Should a Game 3 be necessary, it will take place on Thursday, with the exact time yet to be determined based on the overall MLB postseason schedule. The Division Series begin on October 3, with the NLCS and ALCS following in the second week of October.
Wednesday’s game will offer a clear test of whether the Cubs can regain momentum or if the Padres will complete the sweep. The postseason remains unpredictable, but San Diego’s confidence, fueled by home runs and strong pitching, has shifted the pressure onto Chicago.
According to Yahoo Sports.