Chicago Cubs outfielders Pete Crow-Armstrong (4), left, Ian Happ (8), center and Seiya Suzuki (27), right, celebrate the win against the San Diego Padres at the end of the ninth inning during game one of the wild-card round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. David Banks-Imagn Images

Cubs bullpen dazzles in first postseason win since 2017

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 6:38 PM ET

Entering Game 1 of Tuesday's National League wild-card series, the Chicago Cubs hadn't won a postseason game since 2017. That cannot be said anymore as Chicago used timely hitting and a stellar bullpen performance to a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres and take a 1-0 series lead.

Bullpen dominance

The Cubs bullpen got more outs (14) than starter Matthew Boyd did (13) in his 4 1/3 innings pitched. Chicago manager Craig Counsell used a combination of Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Kittredge and Brad Keller to lockdown the win.

Timely hitting

Offensively for the Cubs, it was Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly hitting back-to-back home runs off Padres starter Nick Pivetta to give Chicago the 2-1 lead that it never surrendered.

THE CUBS WITH BACK-TO-BACK HOME RUNS TO TAKE THE LEAD

Watch Padres-Cubs on ABC and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/0Okny2whsq
— ESPN (@espn) September 30, 2025

It was Nico Hoerner's eighth inning sacrifice fly that provided an insurance run and extended the lead to 3-1 headed to the ninth inning where Keller ultimately secured the victory.

Keller to cap it off. pic.twitter.com/M1oLBtioUF
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 30, 2025

Game 2 outlook

Game 2 of the series will see Dylan Cease get the ball for San Diego, while Chicago has not yet announced its starting pitcher.

The Padres will be looking to avoid elimination, and the Cubs will be looking to advance past the wild-card round for the first time since 2017.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

More must-reads: