Cubs announce Wild Card Series roster

The Chicago Cubs have unveiled their roster for the best-of-three Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres, set to commence this evening at Petco Park in San Diego. The team's lineup, arranged in alphabetical order by position, comprises 26 players.

In the infield, the Cubs have a strong presence with six players including Gabriel Arias, Alex Bregman, Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Pedro Ramirez, and Dansby Swanson. The outfield is equally deep with six players - Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Conforto, Ian Happ, Matt Shaw, Seiya Suzuki, and Tyrone Taylor. It's worth noting that Shaw, while primarily an outfielder, is also capable of playing second base or third base.

Behind the plate, the Cubs have two catchers in Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly. Starting the series will be three pitchers: Matthew Boyd, Kevin Gausman, and Shōta Imanaga. While the order of these pitchers is not specified, Boyd is expected to start Game 1 tonight.

Holmes, who has been a starter for the Cubs for the past two years, brings a wealth of relief experience to the bullpen. He has also served as a closer for the Yankees for three seasons, making him a potentially formidable option for the Cubs. However, he is the only player not selected for this specific series.