In a nail-biting finish at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs held off a furious ninth-inning rally by the San Diego Padres to secure a 3-1 victory in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series on Thursday. This win sends the Cubs into the National League Division Series for the first time since 2017, while the Padres' spirited postseason run comes to a disappointing end.
The series had been a back-and-forth affair from the start. Chicago took Game 1 with a 3-1 edge on September 30, leaning on solid pitching and timely hitting. San Diego bounced back decisively in Game 2, shutting out the Cubs 3-0 behind strong bullpen work and a sacrifice fly from Jackson Merrill early on. Heading into the decider, tensions were sky-high, with both teams knowing elimination loomed for one side.
Jameson Taillon set the tone for Chicago, delivering four scoreless innings to keep the Padres' potent lineup in check. The Cubs scratched across their runs methodically—a single here, a homer from Michael Busch there—building just enough cushion. But the real drama unfolded in the ninth. Reliever Brad Keller, after a shaky start with a leadoff homer to Merrill that cut the lead to two, loaded the bases with back-to-back hit batters. Enter Andrew Kittredge, who coolly induced a grounder and a fly out to slam the door. Indeed, the Cubs' defense, led by shortstop Dansby Swanson's sharp plays throughout the series, proved clutch once more.
For San Diego, the loss stings particularly after a regular season that saw them snag the NL West wild card spot. Manny Machado and the crew fought valiantly, but their bats went quiet at critical junctures. The Padres, still chasing that elusive first World Series title, now head into an offseason of reflection and roster tweaks.
However, the Cubs' advance isn't without its own questions—can this retooled squad, fresh off injuries and trades, sustain the momentum against the Brewers? As the playoffs heat up, one can't help but wonder how far Chicago's grit will carry them this October.