NL Wild Card Series rematch with the Cubs

Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres

• Game 1: 6:40 pm Monday (Padres.TV)
• Game 2: 6:40 pm Tuesday (Padres.TV)
• Game 3: 1:10 pm Wednesday (Padres.TV)

In the standings

Chicago Cubs (17-11, 2nd in NL Central)

The Cubs had received 10 in a row earlier than shedding their final two video games at Dodger Stadium. They stay a recreation behind the Reds in the NL Central, whereas their plus-31 run differential is fourth greatest in the majors. Chicago cut up its six video games in opposition to the Padres final yr, however Chicago bounced the Padres in three video games in the NL Wild Card Series.

San Diego Padres (18-9, 2nd in NL West)

The Padres had received six straight collection earlier than shedding a lead in the seventh inning on Sunday in Mexico City as they settled for a cut up with Arizona. The Padres went 5-3 on the street journey by Anaheim (2-1), Colorado (2-1) and Mexico City to play Arizona (1-1). The Padres’ plus-12 run differential is seventh greatest in the majors. Their document is third greatest, behind the Braves (20-9) and the Dodgers (19-9).

Trending

Chicago: The Cubs are hitting .291/.379/.489 over the final week, with OF Seiya Suzuki (1,183 OPS) accounting for 4 of the staff’s 13 homers over that stretch. 1B Michael Busch (.881 OPS) and SS Dansby Swanson (.734 OPS) each have two residence runs in the final week. Rookie Moises Ballesteros DH Moises Ballesteros is hitting .438/.526/.875 over the final week. LHP Hobby Milner (2.70 ERA) leads the staff with 13 appearances on the season, adopted by 12 from RHP Jacob Webb (4.66 ERA).

San Diego: The Padres performed 5 straight video games in elevation, however solely two regulars had an OPS over .570 in Colorado and Mexico City: SS Xander Bogaerts (.929) and 3B Manny Machadowho homered twice on Sunday to push his OPS to .889. On the flip facet, 5 Padres completed that portion of the journey underneath .600: 2B Jake Cronenworth (.568), OF Ramon Laureano (.566), OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (.542), 1B Gavin Sheets (.529) and OF Jackson Merrill (.509). RHP Mason Miller is driving a string of 34⅔ straight scoreless innings, a franchise document.

Pitching matchups

Monday

Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (1-1, 5.79 ERA) | The 35-year-old veteran has a 22-to-3 strikeout to stroll ratio by three begins (14 IP). I’ve missed three weeks with a biceps pressure. Boyd confronted the Padres twice in the common season final yr (1.59 ERA, 11⅓ IP) and as soon as in the NL Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field (4⅓ IP, 1 ER).

Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (2-0, 1.88 ERA) | The Padres have received all 5 of their begins, three of which have been high quality. Vásquez beat the Rockies at Coors Field final week, putting out 5 over seven shutout innings with out a stroll. He has a 2.57 ERA in three profession begins in opposition to the Cubs. He walked seven in opposition to 4 strikeouts in two begins final yr (2.79 ERA).

Tuesday

Cubs RHP Edward Cabrera (2-0, 2.73 ERA) | The Cubs pried Cabrera from the Marlins over the offseason for former Padres draftee Owen Caissie and two minor leaguers. Cabrera is coming off a career-high 137 ⅔ innings final yr. Three of his 5 begins this yr have been high quality, however Cabrera allowed 5 runs — three earned — in seven innings final week in opposition to the Phillies. Cabrera has a 0.54 ERA in three profession begins in opposition to the Padres, together with one run in 5⅔ innings in a win final yr.

Padres RHP Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.75 ERA) | He tied a season-high with three walks whereas lasting simply 2⅔ innings (4 ER) in his final begin at Coors Field. His two strikeouts in that loss have been a season low. Buehler has a 4.54 ERA in 37⅔ innings (7 video games, 6 begins) in his profession in opposition to the Cubs. He final confronted them in 2024 (5 IP, 5 ER).

Wednesday

Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (1-1, 4.55 ERA) | He’s gone six innings in three of his 5 begins to date this season, however he has a 5.73 ERA in two street begins. Taillon has a 2.40 ERA in 5 regular-season begins in opposition to the Padres. He additionally began final yr’s decisive Game 3 in the NL Wild Card Series with 4 shutout innings.

Padres RHP Matt Waldron (0-1, 12.46 ERA) | He has allowed 16 hits, together with two residence runs, by his first two begins (8 ⅔ innings. Waldron has thrown his knuckleball 31.3% of the time to date and is permitting a .500 batting common and a .929 slugging share off the pitch. This is Waldron’s first profession begin in opposition to the Cubs.

2026 staff leaders

• OPS: Cubs—2B Nico Hoerner (.856), OF Ian Happ (.830), SS Dansby Swanson (.740); Parents—SS Xander Bogaerts (.781), OF Ramón Laureano (.777), 1B Gavin Sheets (.710).
• HRs: Cubs—Happ (7), Swanson (6), 4 tied with 3; Parents—Bogaerts (4), Laureano (4), 3B Manny Machado (4).
• RBIs: Cubs—Hoerner (23), Swanson (21), Happ (14); Parents—Laureano (18), Bogaerts (16), Machado (16).
• Steals: Cubs—Hoerner (7), OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (2), OF Matt Shaw (2); Parents—OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (6), OF Jackson Merrill (5), two tied with 3.
• Saves: Cubs—LHP Caleb Thielbar (2-for-3, 3.12 ERA), three tied with 1; Parents—RHP Mason Miller (10-for-10, 0.00 ERA).
• Holds: Cubs—LHP Hoby Milner (2, 2.70 ERA), RHP Ben Brown (1, 2.37 ERA), Thielbar (1); Parents—RHP Jason Adam (5, 1.59 ERA), LHP Kyle Hart (4, 4.91 ERA), LHP Adrián Morejón (4, 5.93 ERA).

Training room

Chicago: The Cubs bullpen is dealing with numerous accidents, led by nearer (theDaniel Palencia t pressure). Chicago can be with out LHP Riley Martin (elbow), RHP Phil Maton (knee), LHP Caleb Thielbar (hamstring), RHP Hunter Harvey (triceps), LHP Jordan Wicks (forearm), RHP Ethan Roberts (finger), RHP Shelby Miller (elbow) and RHP Porter Hodge (flexor). RHP Cade Horton (UCL) is finished for the yr, whereas LHP Justin Steele (elbow) might return from final yr’s surgical procedure in the first half of the season.

San Diego: RHP Jeremiah Esterada (elbow) is rehabbing at low Single-A Lake Elsinore, whereas RHP Griffin Canning (Achilles) has made 4 rehab begins at Triple-A El Paso. LHP Yuki Matsui (groin) can be rehabbing with El Paso. RHP Nick Pivetta (elbow) continues to be in a relaxation and rehab mode, whereas RHP Joe Musgrove (Tommy John) has not returned to the mound since his spring coaching setback.