{
  "id": 10807551,
  "title": "MLB Wild Card Series Game 1 preview: Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres, Tuesday 9/29, 9 p.m. CT",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/mlb-wild-card-series-game-1-preview-chicago-cubs-vs-san-diego-padres",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-29T23:31:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/mlb-wild-card-series-game-233100922.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The first pitch of the Cubs vs. Padres Wild Card Series Game 1 is set to begin around 9:10 p.m. CT on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The Cubs have had a mixed record in the first games of series this year, going 27-26, while on the road, they are 12-14. Two of their wins on the road came against Los Angeles and San Francisco, and two losses occurred against San Diego and Seattle. In their last five games, the Cubs have allowed a total of 12 runs, with a high of four, tying for the sixth fewest runs in any five-game span of the season. They have given up 10 runs three times, and 11 runs twice during the same period.\n\nLooking at pitching, the Cubs have been performing well in the first nine innings of games, allowing only 17 runs in their last eight games. They have given up six runs in the 12th inning of one of the eight games, with a total of 23 runs in eight games, which ties for their seventh fewest runs of the season. In the past, the Cubs have allowed 19, 20, and 21 runs in different periods between July 24 and August 6, as well as 23 runs twice earlier in the season.\n\nFor the Cubs' lineup, Matthew Boyd has had an eventful season, missing time due to injuries. However, over his last six starts, he has posted a 3.28 ERA, 1.121 WHIP, and only one home run in 35.2 innings. His performance against the Padres' Michael King, the best starter for the Padres, is noteworthy, with a 1.66 ERA in 21.2 innings across seven postseason games. King, by contrast, has never faced the Cubs in a regular season game. Notably, Alex Bregman has a strong batting average against King, which could be significant in tonight's game.\n\nThe game will be broadcast on Peacock and NBC Sports Network, with complete coverage available on MLB.com. Fans can participate in the discussion on the SB Nation Padres site, Gaslamp Ball.",
  "summary": "Here we go.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "AL Wild Card Series Game 1: Cam Schlittler vs. Payton Tolle",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/al-wild-card-series-game-1-cam-schlittler-vs-payton-tolle",
        "published": "2026-09-29T23:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}