The Chicago Cubs punched their ticket to the NLDS on Wednesday, dispatching the San Diego Padres in a tense Game 3 at Wrigley Field. It was a 3-2 victory that left the Padres packing early from the playoffs, their bats silenced in crucial moments. Indeed, the series had swung wildly—San Diego took Game 1, but Chicago roared back with a 7-1 win in the second, setting up this do-or-die clash.
Fernando Tatis Jr. faced the worst possible timing. The star outfielder, coming off a solid regular season with 22 homers and 75 RBIs, went hitless in the final three games against the Cubs. Whispers of a nagging shoulder issue had swirled late in the year, but Tatis pushed through, only to strand runners in key spots. His 0-for-11 skid alongside Manny Machado and Jurickson Profar— the heart of the lineup—doomed San Diego's offense. However, Tatis later shrugged it off in the clubhouse, vowing a stronger return next spring.
Xander Bogaerts' night added to the frustration. The shortstop, batting .278 this year, ripped a sharp liner in the eighth that umpires ruled foul by a hair— a call that sparked heated debates and replay reviews. Bogaerts, ever the competitor, argued vehemently but couldn't sway the verdict. It might have changed everything, yet the Padres managed just two runs off Cubs pitching anyway.
Yu Darvish took the mound for San Diego and delivered a gritty five innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits. His season stats—12-8 with a 3.45 ERA—showed poise under pressure, but the bullpen faltered late. As for Jake Arrieta, the former Cubs ace who's been mentoring young pitchers in the organization, watched from afar; no active role, but his legacy loomed large in Chicago's resilient vibe. Padres manager Bob Melvin, in his second year at the helm, pulled no punches postgame, criticizing the team's inability to capitalize on chances. "We had our shots," he said flatly.
Moreover, roster tweaks like leaving injured catcher Elias Díaz off the playoff squad highlighted San Diego's depth issues. The Cubs, meanwhile, advance with momentum, their defense shining in the clincher. For the Padres, it's back to the drawing board—will these near-misses fuel a deeper run, or expose deeper flaws?