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Cubs-Padres Wild Card Series Preview
Padres and Cubs face rematch in NL Wild Card Series with key pitching matchups.
In brief
Padres and Cubs face rematch in NL Wild Card Series with key pitching matchups. The Padres and Cubs will compete in a National League Wild Card Series, with the Padres' Michael King facing the Cubs' Matthew Boyd in Game 1. Originally reported by Mlb.
Wild Card Series Rematch
The Padres and Cubs will meet in the National League Wild Card Series for the second consecutive year, beginning Tuesday with Game 1 at Petco Park.
Series Impact
The winner of the series will face the Brewers in the NL Division Series, continuing the rivalry from last year's postseason.
Padres Manager Stance
Padres manager Craig Stammen said the series should be 'a great series' with tightly contested games, noting the Cubs knocked them out of the postseason last year.
“Should be a great series”
Cubs Player Perspective
Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd described the Padres as 'one of the hottest teams in baseball the past few weeks' with a strong clubhouse dynamic.
“They’re one of the hottest teams in baseball the past few weeks”
Starting Pitchers
Cubs' Matthew Boyd (10-5, 3.91 ERA) faces Padres' Michael King (3.21 ERA, 185 IP) in Game 1, with multiple rotation options for Game 2 or 3.
Cubs Lineup
Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs with 40+ homers and 40+ steals, while Alex Bregman returns from a foul ball injury after clearing all worst-case scenarios.
Padres Lineup
The Padres feature Fernando Tatis Jr. with 25 home runs and Jackson Merrill in a recent hot streak, with Austin Hays as the DH.
Bullpen Options
The Cubs have multiple bullpen options including Daniel Palencia and Ryan Rolison, while the Padres use Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon for the ninth inning.
Injury Updates
Cubs' Kevin Gausman has soreness in his non-throwing shoulder, while Bregman returned from a foul ball injury after clearing all worst-case scenarios.
Recent Form
The Padres' offense has improved significantly since September, with Fernando Tatis Jr. hitting 25 home runs and Jackson Merrill in a recent hot streak.
Historical Context
The Cubs and Padres have met twice in the postseason, with each team winning four games across two series.
Postseason Experience
Bregman has played in 10 straight postseason games, joining a list of players with at least 10 consecutive postseason appearances.
Rookie Catcher
Padres' rookie catcher Ethan Salas, 20 years, 120 days old, could become the youngest player to catch a postseason game in MLB history.
The key point
The Padres and Cubs will compete in a National League Wild Card Series, with the Padres' Michael King facing the Cubs' Matthew Boyd in Game 1.
