After winning their MLB postseason opener, the Chicago Cubs had the opportunity to advance to the National League Division Series with a victory over the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. They came up short, getting shut out by the Padres.
The Padres used four pitchers, including each of their three-headed monster in relief — Adrian Morejon, Mason Miller, and Robert Suarez. The three of them allowed only two Cubs’ baserunners over the final 5.1 innings of relief, and one of them only reached base via hit by pitch.
Here are the highlights from this thrilling Game 2.
FINAL: Padres 3, Cubs 0
Although Xander Bogaerts stumbled on a sharply hit ground ball by Seiya Suzuki, he was able to recover and start a game-ending double play.
The Padres may have used a lot of their best bullpen options, but they forced a Game 3 on the strength of four outstanding pitchers resulting in a shutout.
On offense, all it took was a first inning sac fly and a two-run shot by Manny Machado to secure the win.
Game 3 will be tomorrow at 3:08 p.m. ET.
Mason Miller is human after all
Mason Miller was untouchable for the first 1.2 innings he pitched in Game 2. He’d struck out every batter he faced in the series and each of the last 11 batters he’d face in total. The streak finally snapped when Miller grazed Michael Busch’s foot with a pitch. That broke Miller’s strikeout streak, gave the Cubs their first baserunner since the fourth inning, and prompted Shildt to move to Robert Suarez for the final four outs of the game.
Suarez faced some trouble against Nico Hoerner though, throwing two balls to lead off the at-bat and then surrendering a hard line drive to right field. Luckily, Fernando Tatis Jr. was there to make a great running catch to end the inning. We head to the ninth; Padres still lead 3-0.
Mason Miller hits 104 mph
The Padres’ not-so secret weapon, Mason Miller picked up right where he left off after striking out the side in his lone inning of relief in Game 1.
He dazzled in the seventh inning, picking up another three strikeouts, even getting Carson Kelly on a 104 mph fastball.
Oh, he then threw three 103 mph fastballs to Pete Crow-Armstrong. How are the Cubs supposed to mount a comeback against filth like that?
Manny Machado home run, Padres lead by 3
In Game 1, the Cubs broke the game open with two home runs in the fifth, today though, it’s Manny Machado launching a two-run home run in the fifth to help the Padres.
Coming into today’s game, Shota Imanaga had struggled with surrendering home runs. He’d given up 12 in his last six games coming into tonight. That issue got him today. As the Cubs offense struggles to get going, every run counts.
Padres lead 3-0.
Cease out, Morejon in
After 3.2 strong innings, Cease was unable to finish off the Cubs in the fourth, giving up a two-out double to Seiya Suzuki and walking Carson Kelly to put two runners on with two outs.
Padres manager Mike Shildt had seen enough, going to his bullpen likely much sooner than he would have liked, but in a win-or-go-home Game 2, anything is on the table. He chose lefty Adrian Morejon to face PCA. Crow-Armstrong would bounce out to first base to end the inning.
Morejon pitched one inning in Game 1, surrendering two hits but not letting up a run.
MID 4: Padres 1, Cubs 0
It was crickets on the scoreboard since the first inning with Shota Imanaga dealing for the Cubs. Then the fourth inning rolled around. After a walk to Jackson Merrill to lead off the inning, Imanaga threw 15 pitches to Xander Bogaerts and Ryan O’Hearn, the latter of whom pulled a single into right field.
Jose Iglesias was unable to drive the runners home, but he did smoke a line drive right at Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field. So, the onus fell to Jake Cronenworth, who hit a hot shot, but right at Dansby Swanson. Though the Padres threatened, they could not do any damage, the same situation they faced yesterday.
If history does in fact repeat itself, the Cubs don’t have to worry about their one-run deficit.
Shota Imanaga in for Chicago
Kittredge only lasted one inning. Now, it’s Shota Imanaga’s turn. Normally a starter, this is Imanaga’s first ‘relief’ appearance of the season, as he’ll likely be in for multiple innings. He sent the Padres down in order in the second inning, capping off the frame with a strikeout against Jake Cronenworth. Padres still lead 1-0.
Padres strike early
It seems Craig Counsell’s plan to go with an opener backfired a bit, as both Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez would lead off the game with singles. After a double steal, both runners would move into scoring position.
Jackson Merrill would then drive Tatis home on a sacrifice fly, marking the first time in Andrew Kittredge’s postseason career that he’s surrendered a run.
Padres lead 1-0.
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