In a nail-biting finish at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs punched their ticket to the National League Division Series by defeating the San Diego Padres 3-1 in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series on Thursday night. The victory, which came after a back-and-forth playoff matchup, marks the Cubs' first postseason series win since 2017 and sends them onward to face the Milwaukee Brewers.
The game started strong for Chicago, with starter Jameson Taillon delivering four scoreless innings to set the tone. Offensively, the Cubs scratched out three runs early, including a key single from Pete Crow-Armstrong in the second that brought home Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Tucker. But San Diego wouldn't go quietly; Jackson Merrill's leadoff homer in the ninth trimmed the lead to two, injecting real tension into the Wrigley crowd. Reliever Andrew Kittredge, stepping in for Brad Keller after back-to-back walks, managed to escape the jam with a groundout and a fly ball, preserving the win.
For the Padres, it was a frustrating end to a promising season. After dropping Game 1 by the same 3-1 score, they bounced back with a shutout in Game 2 behind Dylan Cease and Manny Machado's timely hitting. Yet, in this decider, their bats went cold against a resilient Cubs bullpen that included Daniel Palencia and Drew Pomeranz. Machado, who homered in the series opener for San Diego, couldn't muster the same magic this time. Indeed, the Padres' inability to capitalize on late opportunities—stranding runners in scoring position multiple times—proved costly.
Moreover, defensive plays shone through, with shortstop Dansby Swanson making crucial stops in all three games, including a standout grab in Game 1. The Cubs' pitching depth, retooled over the summer, held firm despite some traffic on the bases. And while San Diego searches for their first World Series title, Chicago's advance feels like a statement of resurgence.
However, the series highlighted broader playoff volatility, where small margins decide fates. As the Cubs prepare for Milwaukee, one wonders how this momentum might carry them deeper into October.