The Chicago Cubs punched their ticket to the NLDS on Thursday, dispatching the San Diego Padres 4-2 in a do-or-die Game 3 at Wrigley Field. It was a brutal end for the Padres, who had clawed their way into the playoffs but couldn't overcome the Cubs' gritty defense and timely hitting. Indeed, the series exposed some familiar cracks in San Diego's armor, particularly in high-stakes moments where their star power fizzled.
Fernando Tatis Jr., the electric right fielder who's supposed to carry the Padres, went hitless in his last three at-bats of the series, including a crucial strikeout with runners on in the ninth. Bad timing couldn't have been worse for Tatis, fresh off a season with 24 homers and 78 RBIs, yet struggling against Chicago's bullpen. His highlights from earlier in the year—those jaw-dropping plays—felt distant now, as the Cubs' outfielders robbed him of any rhythm. Moreover, the Padres' offense managed just five runs across the three games, a stark contrast to their regular-season punch.
Xander Bogaerts faced his own frustration, umpires missing a clear balk call in Game 2 that might've shifted momentum. The shortstop, batting .268 with solid defense, looked sharp in the field but couldn't ignite the lineup. Yu Darvish, meanwhile, delivered in spurts for San Diego, posting a 3.45 ERA in his final starts, but the Cubs pecked away at him in the opener with back-to-back homers. Jake Arrieta, the Cubs' postseason wizard from their 2016 glory days, wasn't on the mound, but his shadow loomed large—Chicago's staff echoed that unflappable vibe, holding the Padres to a .189 average in the series.
Padres manager Bob Melvin, in his third year at the helm, admitted postgame that execution fell short, especially in day games at Wrigley where San Diego scored zilch over three outings. However, he praised the fight, pointing to Darvish's resilience and Tatis's fire. The loss stings, however, as it marks another early October exit for a team built for deeper runs.
Still, with talents like Tatis and Bogaerts intact, one wonders if the Padres can finally break through next spring—or if these playoff heartbreaks will define their core.