Gavin Sheets’ pinch-hit homer propels dominant Padres past Cubs 4-1 for 2-game Wild Card sweep

In the second consecutive season, the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs will clash in an NL Wild Card series. Last year's best-of-three series saw the Cubs emerge victorious, with each game featuring limited scoring opportunities. The 2026 matchup will take place at Petco Park, a pitcher-friendly ballpark that is likely to produce another tightly contested series.

The Padres, entering the postseason for the fourth time in five years, have a veteran roster but have struggled with their offense, notably with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado going 2 for 22 combined during last year's series. The addition of Ty France, who has been impressive (.863 OPS, 21 HR), and Jackson Merrill (26 HR, 27 SB), may provide a boost to the Padres' lineup.

Among the Cubs' stars, Pete Crow-Armstrong is expected to take center stage. The 24-year-old, who made his postseason debut against San Diego in 2025, has been outstanding, leading the majors with a 9.8 WAR, 45 home runs, 119 runs scored, a .941 OPS, and 41 stolen bases. However, there is uncertainty regarding Alex Bregman's availability, as he returned to the lineup five days after suffering facial fractures from a foul ball hit on September 20.

The three-game series will be played entirely at Petco Park in San Diego, California. Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29 at 8 PM ET on NBCSN, followed by Game 2 on Wednesday, September 30 at 10 PM ET on NBCSN. If necessary, Game 3 will be played on Thursday, October 1 at a TBD time on NBCSN, fubo, and Peacock. The live streams for the games will be available on fubo and Peacock.

The play-by-play will be provided by Dave Flemming, with analysis from Jim Deshaies, Mark Grant, and Clayton Kershaw.