The San Diego Padres forced a Game 3 against the Chicago Cubs with a 3-0 win in Game 2 on Wednesday afternoon.
The Padres did so behind a four-pitcher shutout. San Diego's starter Dylan Cease gave the Padres 3.2 scoreless innings and Adrián Morejón followed Cease with 2.1 shutout innings.
Then, Mason Miller and Robert Suarez combined for the final three innings of shutout baseball to secure the Padres win and force a Game 3.
Two Padres' Pivotal Arms Could be Unavailable
Although the Padres forced a Game 3, their usage of two pivotal arms through the first two games could have them unavailable for Thursday's winner-takes-all matchup.
When Padres' manager Mike Shildt met with the media ahead of Game 3, he revealed that Adrián Morejón and Mason Miller may not be available today against the Cubs, according to Marquee Sports Network's Zoe Grossman.
Both relievers have been used each of the last two days and it would be three straight days if they're utilized today.
Managers usually try to stay away from using guys three days in a row, but everything is on the line in Game 3. However, the amount of pitches both guys have thrown in the last two days plays a big factor.
104 MPH 🔥
— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2025
Mason Miller is bringing the heat pitching on back-to-back days! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/S6TyC8G3iB
Morejón has thrown 42 pitches and Miller has thrown 40 pitched over the last two days.
Whether Shildt said this to stir up news for the Cubs to look at, or Miller and Morejón are actually unavailable today, it's something to monitor in an all important Game 3.
The two relievers combined to pitch six shutout innings over that last two days, and have given up just two hits and have struck out nine batters.
Morejón and Miller were the Padres' two best relievers during the regular season with at least 20 innings pitched that are healthy now. If they aren't available for Game 3, it's a major advantage for the Cubs.