After winning their MLB postseason opener, the Chicago Cubs can advance to the National League Division Series with a victory over the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
The Cubs took Game 1 of the wild card series by a 3-1 score, going ahead with back-to-back home runs from Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly and never looking back.
‘I don’t think it’s much different than yesterday,’ Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters before Game 2. ‘You’ve got to do everything right to win a baseball game. That’s all that you think about. Nothing else really comes into your head because it’s a tall task to win playoff games.’
Dylan Cease (8-12, 4.55 ERA) starts for the Padres, while the Cubs will opt for a bullpen game opened by right-hander Andrew Kittredge.
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What time is Cubs vs Padres game today?
First pitch is scheduled for 3:08 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field.
How to watch Cubs vs Padres: TV channel, stream
Tuesday’s game will air on ABC and can be streamed with Fubo.
Watch Cubs vs. Padres MLB playoffs on Fubo
Cubs vs Padres betting odds
Game 1 summary
The Cubs got the win by a 3-1 final yesterday, putting them just one win away from reaching the division series. However, Game 1 could have very easily gotten out of hand early for Chicago if not for a few key pitches and defensive plays.
In both the second and fourth innings, San Diego threatened, putting runners on third base with one or fewer outs. However, two terrific defensive efforts from Cubs’ shortstop Dansby Swanson kept the runs from scoring. Paired with timely pitching, resulting popouts and strikeouts from starter Matthew Boyd, the Padres were unable to do much with runners in scoring position.
The fifth inning is where the Cubs started to turn it around. After Padres’ starter Nick Pivetta set down 11 straight Cubs entering the frame, Seiya Suzuki took Pivetta deep. The very next batter, Cubs’ catcher Carson Kelly did the same, giving the Cubs the lead.
From then on, the Cubs bullpen dominated, rarely allowing the Padres to reach base. In the end, the Cubs ended up with more hits and more baserunners, but for a moment near the start of the game, there was concern that the Padres would leave Chicago in the dust.
Padres vs. Cubs, Game 2 pitching matchup
- Padres: Dylan Cease (8-12, 4.55 ERA)
After finishing fourth in Cy Young voting a year ago, Cease did not live up to lofty expectations coming into 2025. Albeit he has still been serviceable.
His only start against the Cubs this year didn’t exactly go according to plan though. Cease surrenedered seven hits and three runs (only two earned) across just 5.2 innings. Fortunately, the Padres would go on to win that game 10-4. For his career, Cease holds a 4-2 record with a 2.47 ERA and 61 strikeouts in eight games against the Cubs.
- Cubs: Andrew Kittredge (4-3, 3.40 ERA)
Cubs manager Craig Counsell had been very shy about revealing his Game 2 starter. Now we know it’s because he was planning on using an opener all along. Kittredge is a reliable veteran, with a track record of success in the postseason. In fact, he’s never allowed a run in the postseason, albeit only across 5.1 innings.
He was also fantastic in Game 1, pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Instead of vying for one of his starters to take the bump, it’s clear Counsell is trying to win Game 2 outright, using his team’s strong suit to do so and hopefully giving his bullpen some much needed rest should they win.
Cubs lineup today
- Michael Busch (L) 1B
- Nico Hoerner (R) 2B
- Ian Happ (S) LF
- Kyle Tucker (L) DH
- Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
- Carson Kelly (R) C
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF
- Dansby Swanson (R) SS
- Matt Shaw (R) 3B
Padres lineup today vs Cubs
- Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
- Luis Arraez (L) 1B
- Manny Machado (R) 3B
- Jackson Merrill (L) CF
- Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
- Ryan O’Hearn (L) DH
- Gavin Sheets (L) LF
- Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B
- Freddy Fermin (R) C