The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres meet Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Game 2 of their NL Wild Card series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:08 PM ET. Chicago took Game 1 with a 3-1 win behind timely hitting and a dominant bullpen performance. The Cubs are trying to win their first postseason series since 2017, while the Padres look to extend their season with a road victory.
Chicago finished the year at 93-70, including a 51-31 mark at home. San Diego ended at 90-73, going just 38-44 on the road. The season series between these two clubs is now even at 5-5 after Tuesday’s result. The Under has cashed in 6 of the last 10 matchups, showing a trend of tight, low-scoring contests when these teams play.
CHC Preview – Opener into Imanaga
The Cubs will use Andrew Kittredge as an opener before handing the ball to lefty Shota Imanaga. Kittredge retired the side in order during the eighth inning on Tuesday and owns a 3.33 ERA over the season. Imanaga has struggled in the first inning all year with a 7.20 ERA but has dominated San Diego in limited action, going 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two starts this season.
The bullpen was the star in Game 1, with four relievers combining for 4 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing no hits. For the season, Chicago relievers posted a 2.89 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, one of the best marks in the league. The group has several reliable options including Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, and Daniel Palencia, who each posted ERAs below 3.00.
Offensively, Chicago relied on power and clutch hitting. Seiya Suzuki hit his sixth homer in five games and Carson Kelly followed with another home run. Nico Hoerner drove in an insurance run with a sac fly. The Cubs averaged 4.88 runs per game this year and outscored opponents by nearly a run per game at Wrigley Field.
SD Preview – Cease Looks to Keep Padres Alive
San Diego sends right-hander Dylan Cease to the mound with the season on the line. Cease went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA but has been sharp down the stretch, posting a 3.12 ERA over his last five starts. He is 4-2 with a 2.47 ERA in eight career starts against the Cubs, including a win in April where he allowed only two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings.
The Padres’ bullpen remains one of the deepest in baseball, finishing with a 2.84 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Robert Suarez, Mason Miller, and Adrian Morejon give San Diego multiple late-inning options. Yuki Matsui logged extended work Tuesday, so his availability could be limited in Game 2, but most of the relief core is fresh and ready.
On offense, San Diego managed only one run in the opener despite taking an early lead. Jackson Merrill scored on Xander Bogaerts’ RBI double, but the lineup couldn’t break through against Chicago’s relievers. The Padres averaged 4.31 runs per game this season but leaned on pitching and defense, allowing just 3.83 runs per contest. The team will need production from Merrill, Bogaerts, and Fernando Tatis Jr. to avoid elimination.
Betting Prediction
Oddsmakers list Chicago as a slight favorite at -115, with San Diego at -105 and the total set at 6.5. The Covers score predictor leans toward San Diego with a projected 4.04–3.71 win, expecting the total to go Over at 7.75 runs. Both clubs have elite bullpens, but the starting pitching matchup tilts toward the Padres with Cease’s history against the Cubs compared to Imanaga’s first-inning struggles.
This projects as another close, low-scoring game where one swing could decide the outcome. Chicago has the better offense and home-field advantage, but San Diego’s pitching edge gives them a strong chance to force Game 3. Look for Cease to deliver six solid innings and for the Padres’ bullpen to hold off Chicago late. Predicted final score: Padres 4, Cubs 3.
Pick: Padres +1.5 (-220)
