This browser does not support the Video element.
Cubs face do-or-die Game 3 against Padres in October showdown
After a tough Game 2 loss, the Cubs must ignite their offense today to survive elimination and keep their postseason hopes alive.
The Chicago Cubs have their backs against the wall. So do the San Diego Padres.
Game 3 of the NL Wild Card series will decide who moves on to take on Milwaukee in the NL Division series, and who
Follow along here for live updates and scoring plays as the Cubs take on the Padres in one of three decisive Game 3 games happening Thursday.
Cubs vs. Padres: Live score and updates
FINAL: Cubs 3, Padres 1
Top of the ninth
Top of the ninth
Jackson Merrill ends the shutout. A strike out and two hit batters follows that solo home run. There’s some drama to the top half of the ninth inning.
Andrew Kittredge is in.
He ends the game.
Bottom of the eighth
Pete Crow-Armstrong gets on base, but gets caught stealing. Carson Kelly and Dansby Swanson strike out. There won’t be any insurance runs.
Here it is for the Cubs, with a three-run lead.
Cubs 3, Padres 0
Top of the eighth
Brad Keller allows a single, but Dansby Swanson gets two of the final three outs of the inning to move the game into the bottom half of the inning.
Three more outs for the Cubs.
Cubs 3, Padres 0
Bottom of the seventh
Michael Busch smashes a solo home run. The Cubs add to their lead.
Nico Hoerner chases Suarez out of the game with a double. Hoerner almost scores on a field choice, but is ruled out after a challenge.
Suzuki strikes out to end the inning. Brad Keller is in th
Cubs 3, Padres 0
Top of the seventh
Nico Hoerner is trying to out Gold Glove Dansby Swanson. His leaping grab on a Jose Iglesias’ screamer perhaps saved a run.
Drew Pomeranz gets out of the seventh. Six more outs for the Cubs.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
Bottom of the sixth
The Cubs are 0 for their last 8 with runners on after the long second inning that plated their two runs. Pete Crow-Armstrong made it 1 for their last 9. His single moved Carson Kelly over to second with just one out.
But, Robert Suarez gets Dansby Swanson and Matt Shaw to strike out.
That was the best chance the Cubs had since the second inning.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
Top of the sixth
Dansby Swanson, y’all.
He put out all three outs in the top half of the frame, stranding Manny Machado at first after his lead-off walk.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
Bottom of the fifth
The Good: Cubs are getting players on base. Ian Happ just hit a double for his first hit of the series.
The Not-So-Good: The Cubs are struggling to get hits with said players on bad. Busch led off with a single but was put out on a double-play ball by Nico Hoerner.
Cubs have grounded into two double plays today. They had the fewest double plays in the league in 2025.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
Top of the fifth
Caleb Thielbar allows a single, but strikes out two before Counsell calls on Daniel Palencia.
Palencia allows a double to Freddy Fermin, but gets Tatis to fly out to right. Cubs escape runners on second and third.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
Bottom of the fourth
Carson Kelly gets on first with a single, but Michael King strikes out the next three batters to retire the side.
Caleb Theilbar is in for the Cubs now. Taillon’s day is done.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
Top of the fourth
Taillion remains in charge. Jackson Merrill slapped a double to right, but Taillon gets Xander Bogaerts to pop out to Swanson at short to end the top-half of the frame.
Caleb Theilbar is warming up for the Cubs. Michael King is pitching for the Padres.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
You should hear this, too
The Tigers held off the Guardians to win their Wild Card round. With that win by Detroit, teams that score first have an all-time record of 85-49 in winner-take-all postseason games
Bottom of the third
The Cubs’ offense can’t muster any extra support for Taillon in the third. Hoerner grounded out and Happ fouled out to Luis Arraez. Suzuki struck out to end the inning.
Tucker also slapped a single to center. He’s 2-2 to start this game.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
Top of the third
Jameson Taillon is locked in.
He strikes out Tatis after two groundouts to end the top half of the third inning in a quick 1-2-3 fashion. Cubs need to keep giving him offense in support.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
Bottom of the second
The stage was set for Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Kyle Tucker singled. Seiya Suzuki hit a double. Carson Kelly took a pitch to his back. The bases were loaded with no one out. Crow-Armstrong slapped a single to center to score Tucker. That chased Yu Darvish from the game after just one inning of work.
The bases remained loaded for Dansby Swanson, who walked to bring in another run. Jeremiah Estrada struck out Matt Shaw and ended the inning with a double play. Still, the Cubs got two important runs.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
Top of the second
Taillon is steady today. He allows a hit to Ryan O’Hearn on a base hit that just shuffles away from Dansby Swanson, but that does little to affect him. He gets Jackson Merrill and Gavin Sheets to strike out to retire the side.
That’s three strikeouts in two innings of work for Taillon.
Bottom of the first
Michael Busch gets the first hit of the game with a lead-off single. After a fielder’s choice from Nico Hoerner and a strikeout by Ian Happ, Hoerner gets caught stealing to end the inning.
Kyle Tucker never got his chance to make an early impact.
Top of the first
Jameson Taillon sets the tone early with two strikeouts to start the game, ringing up Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. That’s his first-career playoff strikeout.
The Cubs get a chance to strike first now on offense.
Pregame
Fans are filing into Wrigley Field. The main vibe around the ballpark so far is anxiety. There's a lingering quiet, anxiously awaiting to see which team can throw the first punch in Thursday's do-or-die game,
Starting pitchers
San Diego: Yu Darvish, RHP, 5-5 overall record, 5.38 ERA
Chicago: Jameson Tallion, RHP, 11-7 overall record, 3.68 ERA
What to know for Game 3
The Cubs will look to keep their season alive vs. Padres in a winner-take-all Game 3. Most of what we know was set up after San Diego blanked the Cubs 3-0 in Game 2.
Here's everything you need to know before Thursday's Game 3:
What time is the Chicago Cubs first pitch? What to know about Cubs-Padres NL Wild Card Game 3
Here’s what you need to know about the Cubs’ NL Wild Card winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday vs. San Diego.
Chicago Cubs Game 3 batting order
- Michael Busch, 1B
- Nico Hoerner, 2B
- Ian Happ, LF
- Kyle Tucker, DH
- Seiya Suzuki, RF
- Carson Kelly, C
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
- Dansby Swanson, SS
- Matt Shaw, 3B
San Diego Padres Game 3 batting order
- Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
- Luis Arraez, 1B
- Manny Machado, 3B
- Jackson Merrill, CF
- Xander Bogaerts, SS
- Ryan O’Hearn, DH
- Gavin Sheets, LF
- Jake Cronenworth, 2B
- Freddy Fermin, C