In a National League Wild Card Series that had Chicago buzzing, Dansby Swanson emerged as the unsung hero for the Cubs, his glove work proving decisive against the San Diego Padres. The shortstop, signed to a hefty seven-year, $177 million deal before the 2023 season, lived up to expectations with plays that snuffed out rallies and kept Wrigley Field alive. Indeed, in Game 1 on Tuesday, Swanson robbed Ryan O'Hearn not once, but twice—first with a diving stop in the second inning on a sharp grounder that saved a run, then an over-the-shoulder grab in shallow center during the fourth, turning what looked like a sure single into a tense out at home.
The Cubs, finishing the regular season at 92-70, rode that momentum to a 3-1 series win, clinching it Thursday night with a 3-1 victory in Game 3. Swanson's defense wasn't isolated; he led a stellar infield effort alongside Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong, who combined for several web gems that frustrated the Padres' bats. O'Hearn, the Baltimore transplant hitting .273 this year, found himself repeatedly foiled by Swanson's range and instincts— a matchup that highlighted the Cubs' edge in the field, even if their offense sputtered at times.
However, it's Swanson's consistency that stands out amid the playoff chaos. At 31, he's no stranger to big stages, having played in the World Series with Atlanta back in 2021. Yet here in Chicago, where expectations run high after a middling 83-win campaign last year, his contributions feel like a quiet validation of the front office's gamble. The Padres, battle-tested with recent deep runs, couldn't overcome the defensive wall, stranding runners and watching as Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly provided the timely power with back-to-back homers in the opener.
Moreover, as the Cubs advance to the NLDS—facing the Dodgers next—Swanson's poise under pressure raises questions about how far this group's grit can carry them in October.