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The San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs will play a pivotal, winner-take-all Game 3 in the NL Wild Card Series on Thursday, October 2. The series is tied at one game apiece, with the Cubs winning the opener and the Padres taking Game 2.
San Diego will be putting the ball in Yu Darvish’s hands, and he will face his former team. He was with Chicago from 2018-2020, but has been with the Padres since 2021. Darvish tallied a 5-5 record over 15 regular-season starts with a 5.38 ERA. Manager Mike Shildt showed in Game 2 that he has no problem pulling his starter early, as Dylan Cease only went 3.2 innings and allowed no runs with three hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
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Chicago will start veteran pitcher Jameson Taillon. He started 23 for the Cubs during the regular season and had an 11-7 record with a 3.68 ERA. This will be the second playoff start of Taillon’s career. In his lone playoff start, he pitched 4.1 innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits. With it being Game 3, Chicago will likely have its whole bullpen ready to go if Taillon struggles on Thursday.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates and highlights from Padres vs. Cubs in Game 3 of the 2025 National League Wild Card Series.
STREAM: Watch Cubs vs. Padres Game 3 live in ESPN app
Cubs vs. Padres score
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Cubs vs. Padres live updates, highlights from NL Wild Card Game 3
All times Eastern.
6:03 p.m. — Here’s what Cubs fans want to see: a 2-for-2 day for Kyle Tucker, who laces a two-out single off Estrada in the third.
5:58 p.m. — Taillon puts together a brilliant third inning, striking out Tatis to close out a 1-2-3 frame. The single from O’Hearn that was nearly snagged by Hoerner remains the only blemish on Taillon today.
End of second inning: Cubs 2, Padres 0
5:52 p.m. — Estrada gets Busch to ground into a double play, and that’s about the best the Padres could’ve hoped for at this point. The Cubs lead 2-0, but San Diego remains within striking distance.
The @Padres limit the damage with a timely double play! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/YMwAMQOOxA
— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2025
5:47 p.m. — Estrada strikes out Matt Shaw, so the Padres finally get the first out they desperately needed.
Cubs 2, Padres 0
5:46 p.m. RBI WALK — Estrada walks Dansby Swanson, and the Cubs now have a 2-run lead.
Cubs 1, Padres 0
5:40 p.m. RBI SINGLE — Crow-Armstrong keeps the line moving and dunks one in for an RBI single! The bases remain loaded with no one out. Yu Darvish is coming out of this game for Jeremiah Estrada.
PCA!
The @Cubs score first in Game 3! pic.twitter.com/1zeDFppRbf
— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2025
5:37 p.m. — Now Darvish hits Kelly to loaded the bases with nobody out. PCA has a chance to put his second half struggles behind him here.
5:35 p.m. — Here come the Cubs: Kyle Tucker leads off the second inning with a single, and Seiya Suzuki follows him up with a double down the left field line. Chicago has runners on second and third with Carson Kelly coming to the plate.
Seiya Suzuki doubles off Yu Darvish and the Cubs are all set up pic.twitter.com/HH8wwjWrDf
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 2, 2025
5:31 p.m. — Taillon fools Sheets and picks up his second strikeout of the day to end the inning.
5:29 p.m. — Taillon gets the first two outs before Ryan O’Hearn lines a ball off Nico Hoerner’s glove for a single. Gavin Sheets will step to the plate with two outs and O’Hearn at first.
End of first inning: Padres 0, Cubs 0
5:22 p.m. — Nico Hoerner is called safe on a stolen base attempt, but the Padres are challenging the call and appear to be right. They’re leaving the field…and they are correct. Freddy Fermin gets Hoerner to end a scoreless first inning.
5:20 p.m. — Ian Happ goes down on strikes for the second out. Shadows are going to be a major factor early in this game, though this one should finish under the lights after starting two hours later than the first two games in this series.
5:18 p.m. — Nico Hoerner’s speed prevents a double play, but he grounds into the first out of the inning.
5:17 p.m. — Michael Busch laces a leadoff single off Yu Darvish to fire up an already raucous Wrigley Field crowd.
5:14 p.m. — Crow-Armstrong makes a diving grab to end the inning! Taillon works a 1-2-3 first inning.
Pete Crow-Armstrong. Electric. pic.twitter.com/lJSVHGr6xk
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 2, 2025
5:12 p.m. — The wind is blowing out and pushes Luis Arraez’s fly ball to the warning track, but it lands harmlessly in the glove of Pete Crow-Armstrong. Here comes Manny Machado with two outs.
5:11 p.m. — Jameson Taillon starts his day with a strikeout of Fernando Tatis Jr.
5:04 p.m. — First pitch is minutes away. Let’s have some fun.
4:56 p.m. — No surprises for the Cubs as they look for their first postseason series win since 2017.
October baseball at the Friendly Confines! pic.twitter.com/qmGbXxmfcs
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 1, 2025
4:45 p.m. — Here’s who the Padres are running out for Game 3:
Let’s play three. pic.twitter.com/sZ8OTfNMnI
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 2, 2025
Where to watch Cubs vs. Padres today
Padres vs. Cubs start time
- Date: Thursday, October 2
- Time: 5 p.m. ET
Game 3 of the Padres and Cubs in the NL Wild Card Series will begin at 5 p.m. ET from Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.
What channel is Padres vs. Cubs on today?
San Diego vs. Chicago in the NL Wild Card round will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Kevin Brown will handle the play-by-play, while Jessica Mendoza and Ben McDonald will be on hand as the analysts on the broadcast.
You can also stream the MLB Wild Card games live with the new ESPN app, or on Fubo.
MORE MLB:
MLB playoff schedule 2025
Wild Card Series schedule
Tuesday, Sept. 30
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1: Tigers 2, Guardians 1 | 1:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Cubs 3, Padres 1 | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1 | 6:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Dodgers 10, Reds 5 | 9:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Wednesday Oct. 1
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 2: Guardians 6, Tigers 1 | 1:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Padres 3, Cubs 0 | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Yankees 4, Red Sox 3 | 6:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Dodgers 8, Reds 4 | 9:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Thursday, Oct. 2
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 3: Guardians vs. Tigers | 3:00 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 3: Cubs vs. Padres | 5:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 3: Yankees vs. Red Sox | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Division Series schedule, scores
Saturday, Oct. 4
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLDS Game 1: Brewers vs. Cubs/Padres | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| NLDS Game 1: Phillies vs. Dodgers/Reds | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALDS Game 1: Mariners vs. Guardians/Tigers | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
| ALDS Game 1: Blue Jays vs. Yankees/Red Sox | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Sunday, Oct. 5
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALDS Game 2: Mariners vs. Guardians/Tigers | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
| ALDS Game 2: Blue Jays vs. Yankees/Red Sox | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Monday, Oct. 6
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLDS Game 2: Brewers vs. Cubs/Padres | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| NLDS Game 2: Phillies vs. Dodgers/Reds | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
Tuesday, Oct. 7
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALDS Game 3: Guardians/Tigers vs. Mariners | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
| ALDS Game 3: Yankees/Red Sox vs. Blue Jays | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Wednesday, Oct. 8
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLDS Game 3: Cubs/Padres vs. Brewers | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| NLDS Game 3: Dodgers/Reds vs. Phillies | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALDS Game 4: Guardians/Tigers vs. Mariners* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
| ALDS Game 4: Yankees/Red Sox vs. Blue Jays* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
*If necessary
Thursday, Oct. 9
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLDS Game 4: Cubs/Padres vs. Brewers* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| NLDS Game 4: Dodgers/Reds vs. Phillies* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
*If necessary
Friday, Oct. 10
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALDS Game 5: Mariners vs. Guardians/Tigers* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
| ALDS Game 5: Blue Jays vs. Yankees/Red Sox* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Saturday, Oct. 11
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLDS Game 5: Brewers vs. Cubs/Padres* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| NLDS Game 5: Phillies vs. Dodgers/Reds* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
*If necessary
League Championship Series schedule
Sunday, Oct. 12
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALCS Game 1: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Monday, Oct. 13
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 1: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALCS Game 2: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Tuesday, Oct. 14
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 2: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
Wednesday, Oct. 15
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALCS Game 3: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Thursday, Oct. 16
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 3: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALCS Game 4: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Friday, Oct. 17
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 4: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALCS Game 5: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
*If necessary
Saturday, Oct. 18
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 5: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
*If necessary
Sunday, Oct. 19
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALCS Game 6: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
*If necessary
Monday, Oct. 20
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 6: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALCS Game 7: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
*If necessary
Tuesday, Oct. 21
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 7: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
*If necessary
World Series schedule 2025
Friday, Oct. 24
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
Saturday, Oct. 25
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 2: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
Monday, Oct. 27
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 3: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
Tuesday, Oct. 28
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 4: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
Wednesday, Oct. 29
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 5: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
*If necessary
Friday, Oct. 31
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 6: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
*If necessary
Saturday, Nov. 1
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 7: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
*If necessary