How to Watch Cubs vs. Padres NL Wild Card Game 3 - October 2

Updated Oct. 2, 2025 3:22 p.m. ET

Data Skrive

The deciding Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series on Thursday will feature the Chicago Cubs playing host to the San Diego Padres. The teams will look advance to the NLDS when action begins at 5:08 p.m. ET on ESPN, live from Wrigley Field. Yu Darvish will start for the Padres and Jameson Taillon is the Cubs' starter in the contest.

Check out everything you need to know to watch the Cubs vs. Padres matchup.

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Cubs vs. Padres Game Information & How to Watch

When: Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 5:08 p.m. ET
Where: Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois
TV: Watch on ESPN
Box Score: Fox Sports

Cubs vs. Padres Prediction

Score Prediction: Cubs 4, Padres 3
Total Prediction: Over 7.5 runs
Win Probabilities: Cubs 55%, Padres 45%

Cubs vs. Padres Head to Head

Date	Favorite	Spread	Total	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Result
10/1/2025	Cubs	-1.5	6.5	-113	-106	3-0 SD
9/30/2025	Cubs	-1.5	6.5	-133	+113	3-1 CHC
4/16/2025	Padres	-1.5	7.5	-112	-106	4-2 SD
4/15/2025	Cubs	-1.5	8.5	-154	+129	2-1 CHC
4/14/2025	Padres	-1.5	7	-149	+125	10-4 SD
4/6/2025	Cubs	-1.5	7.5	-144	+121	8-7 SD
4/5/2025	Cubs	-1.5	6.5	-120	+101	7-1 CHC
4/4/2025	Cubs	-1.5	7	-165	+139	3-1 CHC
5/8/2024	Padres	-1.5	7.5	-134	+114	3-0 SD
5/7/2024	Cubs	-1.5	9	-172	+144	3-2 CHC

Cubs Last 10 Game Stats

Stat	Avg/Total
Record	5-5
Runs Per Game	4.9
HR	18
ERA	3.07
K/9	8.6

Cubs Player Insights

Kyle Tucker is batting .266 with 25 doubles, four triples, 22 home runs and 87 walks.
Including all MLB hitters, Tucker ranks 46th in batting average, seventh in on-base percentage, and 44th in slugging.
Nico Hoerner is hitting .297 to pace his team.
Hoerner is 264th in home runs and 123rd in RBI among all MLB hitters this season.
Hoerner carries a three-game streak with at least one hit into this contest. During his last five outings he is batting .286 with a home run and two RBIs.
Pete Crow-Armstrong has 37 doubles, four triples, 31 home runs and 29 walks while batting .247.
Seiya Suzuki's 103 runs batted in lead his team.
Suzuki brings a nine-game streak with at least one hit into this one. In his last 10 outings he is batting .294 with two doubles, six home runs, two walks and 13 RBIs.

Cubs Recent & Upcoming Games

Date	Opponent	Score	Pitching Matchup
Sept. 26	Cardinals	W 12-1	Colin Rea vs Miles Mikolas
Sept. 27	Cardinals	W 7-3	Jameson Taillon vs Michael McGreevy
Sept. 28	Cardinals	W 2-0	Javier Assad vs Kyle Leahy
Sept. 30	Padres	W 3-1	Matthew Boyd vs Nick Pivetta
Oct. 1	Padres	L 3-0	Andrew Kittredge vs Dylan Cease
Oct. 2	Padres	-	Jameson Taillon vs Yu Darvish

Padres Last 10 Game Stats

Stat	Avg/Total
Record	8-2
Runs Per Game	5.1
HR	13
ERA	2.27
K/9	10

Padres Player Insights

Fernando Tatis Jr. is batting .268 with 27 doubles, two triples, 25 home runs and 89 walks, while getting on base at a rate of .368.
In all of the big leagues, Tatis ranks 50th in home runs and 84th in RBI.
Manny Machado been a consistent power bat this season, as he leads his team with 27 home runs and 95 RBI.
Machado is 38th in homers and 20th in RBI among all MLB hitters this season.
Luis Arraez has put up a team-high batting average of .292.
Ryan O'Hearn has 21 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs and 58 walks while hitting .281.

Padres Recent & Upcoming Games

Date	Opponent	Score	Pitching Matchup
Sept. 26	Diamondbacks	W 7-4	Yu Darvish vs Zac Gallen
Sept. 27	Diamondbacks	W 5-1	Michael King vs Eduardo Rodriguez
Sept. 28	Diamondbacks	W 12-4	JP Sears vs Brandon Pfaadt
Sept. 30	@ Cubs	L 3-1	Nick Pivetta vs Matthew Boyd
Oct. 1	@ Cubs	W 3-0	Dylan Cease vs Andrew Kittredge
Oct. 2	@ Cubs	-	Yu Darvish vs Jameson Taillon