Padres lock up No. 4 seed, will host Cubs in Wild Card Series

SAN DIEGO -- For a second straight postseason, the Padres and Cubs will meet in the National League Wild Card Series. This time, it’ll be at Petco Park.

That became official after the Padres’ 10-7 victory over the Diamondbacks on Saturday night -- clinching their third straight 90-win season and a rematch with the Cubs, who knocked them out in the Wild Card round last October at Wrigley Field.

“We’re playing at home now,” said Manny Machado, who launched his 30th homer of the season on Saturday night. “Obviously playing at home is great. It’s going to be fun. … Keep playing baseball like we have been, and I think we’ll be in a good spot.”

Here are some takeaways from a festive night at Petco Park:

Playoff matchup set

The reeling Phillies were beaten by Tampa Bay earlier Saturday evening, locking in the Cubs as San Diego’s first-round opponent. From there, the Padres needed a win over Arizona to ensure home-field advantage.

The game was more or less a blueprint for what everything might look like in the postseason. Manager Craig Stammen went to his bullpen early. That bullpen was mostly excellent (before Mason Miller endured a rare rough outing, allowing three runs in the ninth). The Padres’ offense made the Diamondbacks pay for every mistake.

Another sellout Petco Park crowd did its part, too. The ballpark was packed early, with gold rally towels given to all fans in attendance. Felt like a playoff preview.

The real thing starts with Game 1 against the Cubs on Tuesday.

“The reward is getting to play a couple playoff games at home,” said Stammen, who became the first rookie manager in Padres history to win 90 games. “We’re excited about that. Don’t have to pack our bags tomorrow. We can enjoy this one -- and then get ready for the playoffs.”

Milestone Manny

The Padres trailed by a run in the fourth when Machado went the other way for a three-run homer. The moment proved decisive, and the Padres rolled from there.

It marked the eighth 30-homer season of Machado’s career and his fourth with San Diego -- moving him into a tie with Adrián González for the most 30-homer seasons in club history.

The homer was also the 399th of Machado’s career.

“For sure, that’s a big number,” Machado said. “I need one more though.”

Only one player has hit career home run No. 400 with the Padres -- Mike Piazza in 2006. Piazza might soon have company.

Of course, it’s unclear whether Machado would start Sunday’s regular-season finale. The Padres will presumably rest the majority of their regulars. Perhaps Machado starts and gets a couple at-bats before he’s lifted -- just to give him a chance at 400 before the regular season wraps up.

Buehler or Ray for Game 3?

Don’t lose sight of the value Walker Buehler provided this season. He made 32 starts and helped stabilize a shaky Padres rotation. His 4.63 ERA doesn’t really do him justice. Outside of a couple starts in early July, Buehler was reliable all season.

But he made his final start of the regular season on Saturday, and wasn’t all that sharp. Buehler allowed four runs (three earned) over 3 2/3 innings.

“I’m not super concerned about it,” Buehler said. “If you don’t throw strikes, you can’t win games, and I’ve always thrown strikes. I didn’t tonight.”

Now for the important question: Where does Buehler fit in a playoff rotation?

Michael King has already been tabbed for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, and Nick Pivetta is lined up to start a game (though there’s been no announcement on that yet). That could leave a potential Game 3 decision down to Buehler and Robbie Ray.

Obviously, there are other considerations -- namely what happens in Games 1 and 2. But Buehler has been hit hard by the Cubs this season, while Ray pitched five scoreless innings against them on June 5 as a member of the Giants -- and might be a better matchup for the lefties at the top of the Cubs’ lineup.

In any case, Buehler has earned the right to factor into the Padres’ playoff plans. Whether that’s as the No. 3 starter or the No. 4 starter (and an NLDS start, if the Padres get there?), that remains to be seen.