Game result and context
San Diego Padres defeat Chicago Cubs 4-1 in 2026 NL Wild Card Series
The San Diego Padres secured a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on September 30, 2026, completing a two-game sweep to win the NL Wild Card Series.
Final result
The San Diego Padres defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on September 30, 2026. With this victory, the Padres improved their record to 2-0, while the Cubs fell to 0-2.
The scoring began in the bottom of the second inning when the Padres plated two runs. The Cubs responded with a single run in the top of the fourth, but the Padres answered with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to finalize the 4-1 score.
Key performances
Gavin Sheets led the Padres' offense, hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Xander Bogaerts contributed to the effort with two hits and one RBI, while Jackson Merrill and Ty France each recorded two hits.
On the mound for San Diego, Nick Pivetta pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out four batters. For the Cubs, Nico Hoerner provided two hits and drove in the team's only run.
Series context
This game served as the second game of the NL Wild Card Series. By winning this contest, the San Diego Padres clinched the series with a 2-0 record, eliminating the Chicago Cubs from the postseason.
Season and playoff context
The game took place on September 30, 2026, during the MLB postseason. The Padres' victory marks their advancement in the playoffs, concluding the series against the Cubs.