SAN DIEGO – If history tells us anything … this series isn’t finished. Not even close.
The Padres and Cubs have met twice before in the postseason and both times -- the 1984 NLCS and last year’s NL Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field -- the series went the distance.
Of course, the Cubs will need a major bounceback performance in Game 2 on Wednesday to send this Wild Card Series to a decisive Game 3.
“It's just one game, and we've got a job to do to finish the series off,” said Padres manager Craig Stammen. “We've got to come tomorrow and bring it. The Cubs are a great team. They didn't play their best game tonight. But I guarantee they're going to play their best game tomorrow. So we've got to match them. We've got the San Diego faithful behind us.”
No doubt, it’s an uphill climb for the Cubs. Teams that have won Game 1 in a best-of-three Wild Card Series have gone on to win that series 21 of 24 times.
How can I tune in?
Game 2 of the Cubs-Padres Wild Card Series is underway in San Diego. The game is being broadcast on NBCSN and Peacock.
The Wild Card Series will be available in Spanish on Universo, while Univision Radio will provide Spanish language audio coverage. ESPN Radio will provide live national coverage of all 2026 MLB Postseason games, beginning with the Wild Card Series.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Cubs: RHP Kevin Gausman
Key stats: 9-12, 4.51 ERA (42.9% whiff rate with his splitter)
The Cubs are handing the ball to Gausman, who was acquired at the Trade Deadline with moments like this in mind. The righty has pitched in 14 playoff games in his career and was a key piece to Toronto’s run to the World Series last fall. Gausman took the ball in a pair of Game 1 outings and started in two of the Fall Classic games, posting a 2.93 ERA in the ‘25 postseason. He has had mixed results since coming to Chicago and recently dealt with an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder, but Gausman’s resume makes him a logical choice in this must-win setting.
Padres: RHP Nick Pivetta
Key stats: 3-2, 2.86 ERA (1.45 ERA in four September starts)
There were times this summer where it was worth wondering if Pivetta had thrown his last pitch for the Padres. He spent nearly five months on the IL with a flexor strain in his right elbow (and seemed to endure a setback of sorts in his first rehab outing). But Pivetta persevered. And when he returned, he looked like the dominant version of himself -- the version that finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting last season and started Game 1 of last year’s Wild Card Series -- also against the Cubs. (He took the loss in that game, working five innings of two-run ball.)
What do the starting lineups look like?
Cubs: Cubs manager Craig Counsell decided to “play it safe” with Alex Bregman, keeping the veteran in the designated hitter slot for Game 1 due to the facial fractures he sustained on Sept. 20, and he's going with the same strategy in Game 2.
1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
2. Alex Bregman, DH
3. Michael Busch, 1B
4. Seiya Suzuki, RF
5. Ian Happ, LF
6. Nico Hoerner, 2B
7. Matt Shaw, 3B
8. Carson Kelly, C
9. Dansby Swanson, SS
Padres: Top Padres prospect Ethan Salas makes his postseason debut with the righty Gausman on the mound -- making him the youngest player to catch a game in postseason history at 20 years, 121 days. Dustin Harris returned to the No. 2 spot, starting in left field. In a bit of a surprise, the righty-hitting Austin Hays starts at DH, batting eighth, with Stammen citing Gausman's reverse splits and the value of having Gavin Sheets' lefty bat available off the bench.
1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
2. Dustin Harris, LF
3. Manny Machado, 3B
4. Ty France, 1B
5. Jackson Merrill, CF
6. Xander Bogaerts, SS
7. Ethan Salas, C
8. Austin Hays, DH
9. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Cubs: It’s all hands on deck for the Cubs with Wednesday being a must-win game for the North Siders. In the opener, Counsell stayed away from the rotation group as bullpen contributors, given the lopsided nature of the game. Really, the only high-leverage reliever used was lefty Ryan Rolison. With the exception of Game 1 starter lefty Matthew Boyd, expect everyone to be on call and ready to piece together the 27-out puzzle. That could mean a short leash for Gausman, with Chicago’s other starting arms (Clay Holmes, Shota Imanaga and David Peterson) waiting in the wings.
Padres: Among the biggest reasons Game 1 went so perfectly for the Padres: They preserved pretty much their entire bullpen. Mason Miller will have the back end with Adrian Morejon setting him up. Righty Bradgley Rodriguez and lefty Yuki Matsui will have the middle innings (though Matsui did cover an inning on Tuesday). Jason Adam, who recently returned from a right shoulder strain, is probably in the mix as well. In a lower-leverage spot early in the game, the Padres could turn to David Morgan -- or they could go with either Walker Buehler or Robbie Ray (their two options for a Game 3 start). Stammen noted that Game 1 starter "Michael King would be the only one not available tonight."
Any injuries of note?
Cubs: Gausman has been dealing with a left shoulder issue. While it is his non-throwing shoulder, weakness in the arm could impact his delivery mechanics. Gausman has played catch in recent days and got off a mound prior to Tuesday’s game to test things out. After the Game 1 loss, Gausman said that mound workout had encouraging results and the North Siders opted to hand him the ball for Game 2 on Wednesday.
Padres: Offensively, the Padres are as healthy as they’ve been in quite some time, with Miguel Andujar (right wrist fracture) and Gavin Sheets (left foot sprain) having recently returned from the IL. In the ‘pen, the absence of Jeremiah Estrada (right shoulder impingement) looms large. Meanwhile, Casey Mize (right ankle sprain) and Lucas Giolito (right elbow inflammation) remain sidelined but likely wouldn’t have factored into the Padres’ rotation plans anyway.
Who is hot and who is not?
Cubs: To show you how great Crow-Armstrong has been this season, the .905 OPS he posted in September was actually a drop-off from his overall production (.943 OPS overall). He ended the season as only the seventh player in MLB history with at least 40 homers and 40 steals. Bregman was one of the hottest players down the stretch, putting up a 1.025 OPS in August and a 1.079 OPS in September. On the mound, Peterson (1.27 ERA in his last four outings) and Imanaga (1.96 ERA with one homer allowed in 23 innings in the four starts prior to Sunday’s one-inning tune-up) were standouts in the rotation down the stretch.
Padres: Tatis finished the season scorching hot, hitting 20 of his 25 home runs after the All-Star break. Machado finished the season strong as well. And both have clearly continued that into the postseason. They each homered in Game 1. Meanwhile, Austin Hays went 0-for-4 in the opener.