The Cubs and Padres open their NL Wild Card Series on Tuesday afternoon, with first pitch set for 3:08 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field.
Chicago heads into the postseason fresh off a 2-0 shutout of the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, powered by Seiya Suzuki, who went 1-for-3 and launched a solo homer to provide the offensive spark. San Diego, meanwhile, closed out their regular season in emphatic fashion, rolling past the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-4.
For the Cubs, this postseason marks their first appearance since 2020, capping off a period where they made five playoff trips in six seasons. That stretch featured three division titles, three NLCS runs, and, of course, the unforgettable 2016 World Series victory over Cleveland.
The Padres, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on topping the NL West behind the Dodgers and came second to the Cubs in the NL Wild Card standings. Still, San Diego is no stranger to October, making their fourth playoff appearance in six years, including a run to the NLDS in 2024 and the NLCS in 2022.
This year, their journey kicks off against the Cubs in the opening round, with the NLDS set to feature a showdown against the division-winning Brewers for whoever comes through.
The Sporting News has you covered with everything that you need to know about Cubs vs. Padres Game 1 on Tuesday.
Cubs vs. Padres radio station
- Radio channel: SiriusXM
Listen to the Cubs vs. Padres Game 1 live on SiriusXM, with Chicago broadcast available on channel 177 and the San Diego broadcast on channel 176.
New subscribers get their first month of SiriusXM for free. Listen to every NFL game live, plus college football, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR and more. Stay updated with all the news and analysis from SiriusXM NFL Radio and other sport-specific channels.
Cubs vs. Padres start time
- Date: Tuesday, Sept. 30
- Time: 3:08 p.m. ET | 12:08 p.m. PT
Cubs vs. Padres is set to begin at 3:08 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
The game will be played at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The park can hold up to 41,649 people.
MLB Wild Card schedule 2025
Tuesday, Sept. 30
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1: Guardians vs. Tigers | 1:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Cubs vs. Padres | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Yankees vs. Red Sox | 6:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Dodgers vs. Reds | 9:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Wednesday Oct. 1
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 2: Guardians vs. Tigers | 1:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Cubs vs. Padres | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Yankees vs. Red Sox | 6:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Dodgers vs. Reds | 9:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Thursday, Oct. 2
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 3: Guardians vs. Tigers* | 1:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 3: Cubs vs. Padres* | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 3: Yankees vs. Red Sox* | 6:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 3: Dodgers vs. Reds* | 9:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
*If necessary
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