What's Happening?
The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are set to face off in the 2025 National League Wild Card series. The Cubs, who secured the fourth seed, will host the best-of-three series at Wrigley Field starting on September 30. The Padres, holding the fifth seed, will play all games in Chicago, which could be challenging given their below .500 road record this season. The series will be broadcast on ABC, with live streaming available through the ESPN app and Fubo. SiriusXM will provide radio coverage. The Cubs are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, while the Padres are making their second consecutive postseason appearance.
Why It's Important?
This series is crucial for both teams as they vie for a chance to advance in the playoffs. For the Cubs, it's an opportunity to break their postseason drought and potentially progress beyond the Wild Card round for the first time since 2017. The Padres, on the other hand, are looking to improve on last year's performance where they were eliminated by the Dodgers in the NLDS. The availability of streaming options like ESPN and Fubo reflects the growing trend of digital consumption of sports, catering to audiences who prefer online platforms over traditional cable.
What's Next?
The outcome of this series will determine which team advances to the next round of the playoffs. The Cubs will aim to leverage their home-field advantage, while the Padres will need to overcome their road game struggles. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if the Cubs can capitalize on their return to the postseason or if the Padres can continue their playoff journey.
