There’s a buzz in the air on Chicago’s North Side, and for once, it’s not just the wind whipping through Wrigley Field. The Chicago Cubs, after a full 162-game marathon and a rollercoaster season, have punched their ticket to the postseason for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. Their reward? A high-stakes, best-of-three National League Wild Card series against the surging San Diego Padres, set to kick off Tuesday afternoon at the Friendly Confines.
Under the guidance of manager Craig Counsell, now in his second year at the helm, the Cubs posted a 92-70 regular season record—good enough for the NL’s top Wild Card spot and two games clear of the Padres (90-72). It’s a significant leap for a franchise that’s been searching for consistency and playoff relevance since their last October run. The city’s baseball faithful are more than ready: standing room tickets for the opening game are starting at $96, while the cheapest seats will set fans back $104, and the anticipation is palpable.
The action begins Tuesday, September 30, at 2:08 p.m. CST, with Game Two following on Wednesday at the same time. If the series is tied after two, a decisive Game Three looms on Thursday, October 2. All games will be played at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs have been formidable this year, boasting a 50-29 home record. The Padres, by contrast, have struggled on the road, finishing 38-43 away from Petco Park. Still, if the Wild Card era has taught us anything, it’s that home field is no guarantee—since 2022, home teams have lost eight of the twelve Wild Card series.
Offensively, the Cubs are peaking at just the right moment. Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki, and Pete Crow-Armstrong have all enjoyed career-best seasons. Crow-Armstrong, in particular, made history by becoming the first Cub since Sammy Sosa in 1995 to notch 30 home runs and 30 steals in a single season. Suzuki, after a mid-season slump, finished with a flourish—five home runs in his last four games, ending the year with 32 homers and 103 runs batted in. Busch wasn’t far behind, going deep four times in five games to close out the regular season and leading the club with 34 long balls.
“Smile if you have 30+ homers this season,” the Cubs’ official Twitter account quipped on September 26, a nod to the historic power surge. For the first time since 2004, Chicago boasts three players with 30 or more home runs. Veterans Kyle Tucker, Ian Happ, and Dansby Swanson have added muscle to the lineup, each hitting at least 22 home runs, while Nico Hoerner, Carson Kelly, and Matt Shaw have all had their moments in the sun. After a cold stretch in July and August, the bats seem to be heating up at the perfect time.
On the mound, the Cubs will hand the ball to left-hander Matthew Boyd for Game One. Boyd, an under-the-radar offseason signing, has exceeded expectations throughout the year. Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon round out a staff that’s had to adapt on the fly, especially with Rookie of the Year candidate Cade Horton sidelined by a rib injury. Horton, who dominated in the second half, will miss the entire Wild Card round but could return for a possible Game 5 of the Division Series. “Cade Horton will miss the wild card round due to a rib fracture, per the team,” reported Jesse Rogers of ESPN on September 27. “He’s been placed on the injured list with the ability to return for Game 5 of the DS, if the Cubs get that far.”
The bullpen, a patchwork of veterans and trade deadline pickups, has been a pleasant surprise. Brad Keller, Caleb Theilbar, and Drew Pomeranz have anchored the relief corps, while newcomers Andrew Kittredge and Taylor Rogers provide depth. The ability to deploy swingmen like Michael Soroka, Javier Assad, and Aaron Civale gives Counsell plenty of options in a short series scenario—especially with Daniel Palencia’s role uncertain after a late-season shoulder issue.
The Padres, meanwhile, bring one of baseball’s stingiest pitching staffs to Chicago. Their team ERA of 3.63 ranks third in MLB and second in the National League, thanks largely to a lights-out bullpen (3.06 ERA, best in baseball). Game One starter Nick Pivetta capped a career year with a 13-5 record and a 2.87 ERA over 181 2/3 innings. He’ll be followed by Dylan Cease, a former Cubs prospect who finished strong after a rocky start to 2025. The relief corps features closer Robert Suarez, trade acquisition Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, and ex-Cub Jeremiah Estrada. If the Cubs’ offense falters, the Padres’ arms could make quick work of them.
San Diego’s lineup, while not the most fearsome in the league, is loaded with star power. Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackson Merrill anchor a group that also includes Jake Cronenworth, Ryan O’Hearn, and NL hits leader Luis Arraez. The Cubs’ pitching staff, which has sought consistency all year, will have its hands full. Boyd, Imanaga, and Rea will need to be sharp, especially with the wind at Wrigley often playing tricks on fly balls—a factor Padres manager Mike Shildt acknowledged: “There’s not another ballpark, I would say, that could be any trickier than Wrigley.”
Recent history between these teams offers little to separate them. The Cubs and Padres split their six regular season meetings, with each team taking two out of three at home. Their last encounter was all the way back on April 16, so both sides will be facing some unfamiliar faces and new wrinkles in each other’s lineups. The Cubs, however, stumbled against quality opponents down the stretch, finishing just 38-46 against winning teams, while the Padres managed a .500 record (43-43) in those matchups. San Diego enters the series red-hot, having won 14 of their final 21 games, while the Cubs benefited from a softer schedule but now face a much tougher test.
For fans unable to snag tickets, all games will be broadcast on ESPN, available via DIRECTV. And for those looking to plan ahead, potential Cubs playoff tickets for the NLDS, NLCS, and even the World Series are already on sale. The city is bracing for a wild week—one that could see the Cubs advance to face the division rival Milwaukee Brewers, or just as quickly, have their October dreams dashed.
As the first pitch approaches, one thing’s for sure: Wrigleyville is ready, and the Cubs’ faithful are hungry for more postseason magic. Whether this is the start of a deep playoff run or a short-lived celebration, all eyes will be on Chicago as the drama unfolds.
