Cubs vs Padres LIVE updates, lineups, as San Diego seeks wild card sweep

SAN DIEGO — From a Fernando Tatis Jr. leadoff home run to a shutdown performance from stating pitcher Michael King, Game 1 of the National League wild card series couldn’t have gone better for the San Diego Padres.

The Padres dismantled the Cubs in an 8-0 laugher on Tuesday night, as Tatis and Manny Machado started the fireworks with a pair of first-inning home runs before King settled in to 6 1/3 hitless innings before yielding a Cubs base hit.

On Wednesday, the Cubs will look to overcome long odds, as teams who win Game 1 of the wild-card round are 21-3, with 17 two-game sweeps. Home teams have gone 9-0, with eight sweeps, after winning Game 1.

First pitch in Game 2 is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET Wednesday, Sept. 30, with Kevin Gausman (9-12, 4.51 ERA) set to take the mound for the Cubs, facing Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86 ERA) for the Padres.

First pitch between the Padres and Cubs is scheduled for 10 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

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The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox stand during the national anthem prior to game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

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Chicago White Sox pitcher Grant Taylor (31) reacts with Chicago catcher Kyle Teel (8) after game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.

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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) stretches to first base to hit a RBI single in the eighth inning against Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.

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The Houston Astros line up for the beginning of the game against the Chicago White Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026.

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Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery gets hit by a pitch in the seocnd inning against the Houston Astros during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.

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The Philadelphia Phillies line up before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta. The MLB postseason has arrived as the thrills of playoff baseball in the fall has fans ecstatic to watch every moment unfold.

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A detailed view of Philadelphia Phillies equipment in the dugout before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Ga.

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06:40 PM ET, September 30 2026, Jesse Yomtov

06:39 PM ET, September 30 2026, Jesse Yomtov

05:15 PM ET, September 30 2026, Eric Larsen

Here’s a look at Game 2 starters ahead of tonight’s pivotal NL wild card Game 2:

The Cubs acquired Gausman, a two-time All-Star, ahead of the trade deadline for just this type of high-leverage situation. Solid if not spectacular, Gausman is 2-5 with a 3.83 ERA in 14 playoff appearances, averaging a strikeout per inning. The 14-year MLB veteran is 4-2 in nine starts since joining the Cubs, averaging a little more than 5 1/3 innings per start.

Limited to only eight starts in 2026 due to an elbow injury that landed him on the IL for much of the season. What he’s done on the mound since his September return has been encouraging, though. Pivetta is 2-0 in four starts (all Padres wins) since returning. He’s been limited to five or fewer innings pitched in those appearances, but has tallied 18 strikeouts to only two walks in 23⅔ innings.

05:10 PM ET, September 30 2026, Eric Larsen

USA TODAY MLB insider Bob Nightengale predicts we’ll get a Padres sweep tonight, with San Diego moving on to take on the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in National League Divisional Series play. The rest of our baseball staff has the series extending to three games. Here are their predictions from before the start of the series:

• Bob Nightengale: Padres in 2

• Gabe Lacques: Padres in 3

• Kristie Ackert: Cubs in 3

• Jesse Yomtov: Padres in 3

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