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Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run
Sep 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly (15) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

How to Watch The San Diego Padres vs. Chicago Cubs: TV, Streaming & Game Times for The MLB Wild Card Series

By Russell Raunam  |  Last updated Oct 1, 2025 11:27 AM ET
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The MLB playoffs are here and underway! The San Diego Padres lost their first matchup in the windy city against the Chicago Cubs in a 3-1 final score. This best-of-3 MLB Wild Card Series continues on today.  

The Cubs finished with a better record than the Padres and will be hosting the entire series. Can the Cubs win their first playoff series since 2016? Or will the experienced Padres get the job done on the road? Catch every single pitch this MLB postseason live without cable today! 

How to watch Cubs vs. Padres Game 2 Today

  • Matchup: Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres
  • Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
  • Time: 3:00 PM ET
  • TV Channels: ABC and ESPN Deportes
  • Live Stream Platform: DIRECTV; 5-Day Free Trial
  • Location: Chicago, IL
  • Stadium: Wrigley Field

Odds and Spread for Padres vs Cubs — Game 2

Key Line Chicago Cubs San Diego Padres
Run Line +1.5 -1.5
Run Line Odds -214 +168
Moneyline -119 -103
Series Odds -120 -100

Key players you need to watch on the Padres

  • Manny Machado – Machado led the Padres in home runs in 2025 with 27 as the team's primary third baseman, also posting a strong .275 batting average, .335 OBP, .460 SLG, 95 RBI, and a 4.1 WAR.
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. – Serving as the team's right fielder, Tatis Jr. hit 25 home runs, led the team in runs with 111, stole 32 bases, and delivered an impressive .814 OPS and a team-leading 5.9 WAR.
  • Luis Arraez – As the Padres' primary first baseman, Arraez contributed a team-best .292 batting average over 154 games, highlighting his value as a consistent and reliable hitter.

Key players you need to watch on the Cubs

  • Michael Busch – Led the Cubs with 34 home runs in the 2025 season, providing significant power at first base.
  • Seiya Suzuki – Contributed 32 home runs and 103 RBIs, serving as a key run producer in right field.
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong – Hit 31 home runs as the starting center fielder, making a major impact in the Cubs' offensive lineup.

Key stats for The San Diego Padres

TEAM
 R
 AVG
 OBP
 SLG
 OPS
 HR
 SB
 ERA
 WHIP
 K
 BB
 OBA
 SV
San Diego Padres
 702
 .252
 .321
 .390
 .711
 115
 106
 3.63
 1.21
 1425
 535
 .225
 49

Key stats for The Chicago Cubs

TEAM
 R
 AVG
 OBP
 SLG
 OPS
 HR
 SB
 ERA
 WHIP
 K
 BB
 OBA
 SV
Chicago Cubs
 793
 .249
 .320
 .430
 .751
 237
 161
 3.79
 1.18
 1265
 405
 .239
 44

Who's winning the Cubs vs. Padres series?

The Padres bring elite pitching and high-powered bats to the table, like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Nick Pivetta. On the other side, the Chicago Cubs are young and love to run the bases, led by up-and-coming star Pete Crow-Armstrong. They proved it last night.

The difference maker in this series is that the bottom half of the Padres lineup is not good, while the Cubs have a very balanced 1-9 batting order and will also be behind great home fans. This will be too much for the Padres to overcome, and I like the Cubs to sweep 2-0.

So far the prediction has held up. With another game today, tune in to see if the Cubs can send the Padres back to sunny San Diego for a long off-season.

Russell is a 22-year-old from Dallas, Texas, who recently graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Sports Journalism. He can talk about sports all day long and is also passionate about comedy and entertainment.