Well, here we are again.
This is, as you all know, a rematch of last year’s Wild Card Series, won two games to one by the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The Padres had one of the best home records in MLB this year at 51-30. That included going 10-2 at home in September, although six of those wins were against the Nationals and Marlins. And the Cubs did win two of three from the Padres in San Diego in April.
Then there’s the Cubs’ record in postseason games in San Diego — no wins in three tries, though that
was two generations ago in a different ballpark. It would be nice to erase some of those bad memories this week.
You can find the Cubs wild card roster here. They are carrying 12 pitchers and 14 position players. Here’s a graphic showing the roster:
Here is the Padres wild card roster. Note that they are carrying 11 pitchers and 15 position players:
For more on the Padres, please visit our SB Nation Padres site Gaslamp Ball.
Fun facts
The Cubs are 135-130 in regular-season games at San Diego and 0-3 in postseason games. In night games, they are 96-100, all in the regular season. They are 37-38 at Petco Park, including 27-29 at night.
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This is the first time that the Cubs have played at San Diego immediately after having played at Tampa. They are 45-51 in first game of series at San Diego and have lost the opener in each of their last three visits. Before that, from 2016-2023, they were 5-2 in first games.
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The Cubs are 10-12 this year in games following a day off, including 5-5 in road games after resting.
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The Cubs were 42-36 against teams that had a winning record going into a game. They were 17-22 in such games on the road.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
2026 regular season records in parentheses.
Tuesday, Game 1: Matthew Boyd, LHP (10-5, 3.91 ERA, 1.208 WHIP, 4.21 FIP) vs. Michael King, RHP (12-10, 3.21 ERA, 1.178 WHIP, 4.13 FIP)
Wednesday, Game 2: TBD vs. TBD
Thursday, Game 3 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD
If he’s deemed healthy, I’d expect Kevin Gausman to start Game 2, though that’s not certain yet. More on who the Cubs might go with in this Athletic article.
For the Padres, Nick Pivetta and Walker Buehler are the likely starters after King, although Robbie Ray could also be a starting option.
As always, we await developments.
Times & TV channels
Tuesday, Game 1: 9 p.m. CT, Peacock/NBC Sports Network
Wednesday, Game 2: 9 p.m. CT, Peacock/NBC Sports Network
Thursday, Game 3 (if necessary): TBD
NBC announcers for this series: Dave Flemming, Jim Deshaies, Mark Grant and Clayton Kershaw.
Flemming is the Giants radio play-by-play announcer.
NOTE: In the Chicago market, if you have Comcast/Xfinity or YouTube TV, you should have access to NBC Sports Network. NBCSN might also be on YouTube TV in other markets. I have been told by some FUBO subscribers that they have NBCSN. “Check local listings.”
Here are the umpires for this series:
Prediction
You didn’t really think I wouldn’t pick the Cubs to win this series, did you?
Cubs in three.
Up next
If the Cubs win this series, they will face the Brewers in a division series beginning Saturday, Oct. 3 in Milwaukee. Otherwise, it’s on to 2027 and uncertainty due to a likely owners’ lockout.
