Chicago's historic Wrigley Field is set to host a high-stakes showdown on Wednesday as the San Diego Padres confront elimination against the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series. Following a 3-1 victory for the Cubs on Tuesday, the Padres find their season on the brink, needing a win to force a decisive Game 3. The first pitch is slated for 2:08 p.m. CT/12:08 p.m. PT.
Despite the precarious situation, Padres manager Mike Shildt exuded confidence. "We'll see what the game brings," Shildt stated, acknowledging their backs are against the wall but emphasizing his team's resilience. "Our club is no stranger to challenges. We're battle-tested, we'll answer the bell [Wednesday], and we'll go from there."
Taking the mound for San Diego will be right-hander Dylan Cease, ironically squaring off against the franchise that originally drafted him in 2014. Cease, who improved significantly in September after a summer of struggles, boasts an impressive 2.50 ERA in three career starts at Wrigley Field. Given his earlier season inconsistencies, the Padres may opt for a quick hook if he falters, leveraging their formidable bullpen.
The Cubs, meanwhile, have strategically chosen veteran righty Andrew Kittredge as an opener, after his solid scoreless inning in Game 1. This move, kept under wraps by manager Craig Counsell, is likely intended to shield lefty Shota Imanaga—who has been prone to homers recently—from San Diego's potent top of the order early in the game. Imanaga is expected to follow Kittredge for a bulk outing.
History favors the home team significantly. In the best-of-three Wild Card Series format, teams that secured a Game 1 victory at home have gone on to sweep the series in all seven instances. Broadly, Game 1 winners have triumphed in 18 of 20 series. However, the Padres themselves represent one of those two rare exceptions, having overcome an initial loss in the 2020 playoffs. Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, while pleased with the Game 1 win, underscored the need for continued intensity. "Obviously, it just gets us one closer," Swanson remarked, "But at the end of the day, we’ve got to be able to show up [Wednesday] with some intensity and be ready to compete again, because I know they will.”
Fans can catch Game 2 live on ABC at 2 p.m. CT/noon PT. A potential Game 3 on Thursday has a "to be determined" start time. For viewers in the U.S., all series are accessible via MLB.TV with a participating Pay TV provider authentication. International audiences, excluding Canada, can also stream live. In Canada, Sportsnet is the exclusive English broadcaster for all Postseason games, while TVA Sports (AL Postseason, World Series) and RDS (NL Postseason) will provide French coverage.
**Anticipated Lineups and Bullpen Strategies:**
The Padres, featuring a lineup somewhat skewed left-heavy due to Ramón Laureano's injury absence, might consider adjusting their order to counter Kittredge, potentially moving a lefty hitter up from the bottom of the lineup. The Cubs are anticipated to maintain a similar lineup to their Game 1 success, which saw Seiya Suzuki and Patrick Wisdom power the offense with back-to-back homers.
The bullpens are expected to play a critical role. For San Diego, Michael King is available in relief should Cease struggle early, with the rest of their high-leverage relievers, including Robert Suarez for the ninth and Mason Miller for key situations, well-rested. Adrian Morejon will be ready for tough left-handed matchups. The Cubs' strategy revolves around Imanaga entering in relief after Kittredge, aiming to mitigate his recent struggles. Other right-handers like Colin Rea could also be deployed, with key Game 1 relievers like Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller, and Kittredge himself ready for action.
**Injury Report:**
The Padres continue without Ramón Laureano (fractured right index finger), a significant loss given their left-handed lineup balance. Elias Díaz remains out but could return for a later round if San Diego advances. For the Cubs, Patrick Wisdom was the designated hitter in Game 1 as he rebuilds running endurance after a left calf issue in September. He is cleared for the playoffs but his return to the outfield is still uncertain. Right-hander Cade Horton (right rib fracture) is expected to miss the initial two playoff rounds.
**Who's Hot, Who's Not:**
Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, and Manny Machado, who were stellar in the regular season's close, collectively went 0-for-11 in Game 1, though Xander Bogaerts managed two of San Diego’s four hits. On the Cubs' side, Seiya Suzuki is scorching hot, having homered in his final four regular-season games and then launching a game-tying shot in Game 1, making him the first MLB player to achieve this unique postseason streak. Nico Hoerner also contributed two hits and a sacrifice fly in the Cubs' win, while Pete Crow-Armstrong struggled, striking out three times.
**Historical Insights for Fans:**
* The Padres and Cubs are tied at three wins each in six all-time postseason meetings. However, the Padres have never secured a victory at Wrigley Field; all three of their 1984 NL Championship Series wins against Chicago came at home.
* San Diego's offense has been anemic in the postseason, scoring just one run across their last 33 innings, a drought stretching back to last year's NLDS.
* The Cubs are aiming for their first postseason series win clinched at Wrigley Field since Kyle Hendricks' masterful performance against Clayton Kershaw in Game 6 of the 2016 NLCS. Their 2016 World Series and 2017 NLDS clinchers both occurred on the road.
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Originally published at: https://www.mlb.com/news/padres-vs-cubs-nl-wild-card-series-game-2-starting-lineups-pitching-matchup
