The MLB wild card round gets underway on Tuesday, Sept. 29, featuring a packed slate of games to kick off the action. Among them is an NL wild card series rematch, as the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs face off for the second straight year.
Last season, the Cubs edged out the Padres in a close 2-1 wild card series at Wrigley Field in Chicago. This year, the stage shifts to San Diego, giving the Padres home field advantage at Petco Park for the best-of-three set. The winner will earn the right to face the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers in a best-of-five Division Series.
"Should be a great series," Padres manager Craig Stammen said. "They’re a great team, they’ve got a lot of great players, a good coaching staff. It’ll be tightly contested.
They’re the ones that knocked us out of the postseason last year. So we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game."
In Game 1, Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd will take the mound, while the Padres will start right-hander Michael King, in a duel to set the tone for the series.
Where to watch Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres: TV channel, streaming
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- TV channel: NBCSN
- Streaming: Peacock
Who is starting at pitcher?
The Chicago Cubs will send left-hander Matthew Boyd (10-5, 3.91 ERA) to the mound for Game 1 on Tuesday, while the San Diego Padres counter with right-hander Michael King (12-10, 3.21 ERA).
Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres schedule
Game 3 time is subject to change.
- Game 1, Tuesday, Sept. 29: Cubs at Padres – buy tickets – 10 p.m. ET – NBCSN/Peacock
- Game 2, Wednesday, Sept. 30: Cubs at Padres – buy tickets – 10 p.m. ET – NBCSN/Peacock
- Game 3*, Thursday, Oct. 1: Cubs at Padres – buy tickets – 10 p.m. ET – NBCSN/Peacock
* if necessary
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: San Diego Padres vs. Chicago Cubs wild card: Schedule, pitching matchups for Game 1
