Can the Chicago Cubs Close Out the San Diego Padres? Wild Card Drama Hits Wrigleyville

Ah, October baseball. There’s nothing quite like it. The air gets crisp, the beards get scraggly, and every single pitch feels like it could make or break a season. After a nail-biter in Game 1, the Chicago Cubs are staring down a chance to sweep the San Diego Padres and punch their ticket to the NLDS. The energy at Wrigley Field on Tuesday was electric, and you can bet your last dollar it’s going to be even crazier today.

After the Cubs snagged their first playoff win since 2017, fans are buzzing. Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly went back-to-back with homers in the fifth, and the old ballpark absolutely erupted. “It changed the stadium,” Manager Craig Counsell said. “It changes the energy of the stadium completely.” You felt that, didn’t you? That’s the magic of postseason baseball in Chicago.

A Do-or-Die Day For the Padres

The Padres, on the other hand, have their backs against the wall. Their season now rests on the arm of Dylan Cease, a guy who knows a thing or two about Chicago baseball. Originally drafted by the Cubs back in 2014, Cease was shipped across town to the White Sox in the José Quintana trade. Now, in a twist of fate only baseball can deliver, he gets a shot at revenge against his old club in a must-win game.

Cease’s 2025 season has been a bit of a rollercoaster, with an 8-12 record and a 4.55 ERA. His control has been spotty, walking 71 batters. But here’s the kicker: the man throws absolute gas, touching 100 MPH. If he can harness that power and make the Cubs hitters chase, the Padres might just live to fight another day.

Will the Real Shota Imanaga Please Stand Up?

For the Cubs, the plan is a little… creative. They’re starting with an opener, Andrew Kittredge, before handing the ball to Shota Imanaga. It is a strategy born from necessity, as injuries have battered their once-dominant rotation. Imanaga has been a mixed bag since coming back from a hamstring injury, and his command has been shaky at times. When he’s on, his deception keeps hitters off-balance. When he’s off, well, let’s just say the souvenir vendors get busy.

The key for Imanaga is simple: be the guy who was so dominant early in the season. The Cubs need him to go deep into the game and shut down a desperate Padres lineup. If he falters, the pressure will shift squarely onto the Cubs’ bats to deliver another explosive performance.

So, who wins? The team with momentum, or the team fighting for their playoff lives? On paper, it’s anyone’s guess. But this game won’t be played on paper. It will be played on the hallowed grounds of Wrigley Field, where legends are made and hearts are broken. Let’s play ball.