Jump to content
North Side Baseball
  • Cubs News & Analysis

    Cubs-Padres Game Three Thread: Sudden Death Baseball

    It all comes down to this. The Cubs and Padres square off to determine who has the right to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.
    Brandon Glick

    By Brandon Glick

    Image courtesy of © Matt Marton-Imagn Images

    Cubs Video

    Padres pitching dominated Cubs hitters on Wednesday, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3 in Chicago. The starters are right-handers Jameson Taillon for Chicago and Yu Darvish for San Diego. In 2025, Taillon posted a 3.68 ERA, and Darvish a 5.38 as an injury-plagued season limited him to only 15 starts. Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) tells a different story, though; Taillon has a 2025 FIP of 5.00, and Darvish has a 4.83 FIP. This game is unlikely to become a pitcher's duel, at least until both teams reach into their respective bullpens.

    Cubs Bullpen Usage
    Game 1 (Tuesday), Chicago’s relief corps delivered 4 2/3 perfect innings behind starter Matthew Boyd. The sequence was Daniel Palencia for 1 2/3, then Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Kittredge, and Brad Keller covering the final three innings. In Game 2 (Wednesday), the Cubs used an opener approach. Andrew Kittredge handled the 1st, followed by Shota Imanaga for bulk innings. After that, lefty Caleb Thielbar, righty Colin Rea, and lefty Taylor Rogers finished it off; their batters faced were Kittredge 5, Imanaga 17, Thielbar 4, Rea 6, Rogers 3.  Kittredge is the only Cubs pitcher to appear in both games so far, and he is likely out for Thursday's game as a result. 

    Padres Bullpen Usage
    Game 1, San Diego followed starter Nick Pivetta with Adrian Morejon, Mason Miller, and Jeremiah Estrada. In Game 2, Dylan Cease started and worked 3 2/3. Adrian Morejon covered 2 1/3 innings and threw 33 pitches, Mason Miller struck out the first five batters he faced and threw 27 pitches, and Robert Suarez recorded a four-out save to close a 3-0 win. It's likely that both Morejon and Miller will be unavailable for Thursday's game, but given the nature of the situation, it might be all hands on deck for Mike Shildt.

    Padres Batters Vs Jameson Taillon

    Jameson Taillon vs. San Diego Padres: Current Batters Table
    Rk Player B PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS SH SF IBB HBP GIDP
    1 Xander Bogaerts R 28 28 6 3 0 0 2 0 5 .214 .214 .321 .536 0 0 0 0 1
    2 Ryan O'Hearn L 17 16 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .188 .235 .188 .423 0 0 0 0 1
    3 Martín Maldonado R 16 14 4 1 0 1 1 1 2 .286 .375 .571 .946 0 0 1 1 1
    4 Luis Arráez L 13 13 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 .231 .231 .462 0 0 0 0 0
    5 Jose Iglesias R 13 13 7 2 0 1 3 0 1 .538 .538 .923 1.462 0 0 0 0 0
    6 Gavin Sheets L 11 10 3 1 0 0 0 1 3 .300 .364 .400 .764 0 0 0 0 0
    7 Fernando Tatis Jr. R 6 6 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 .333 .333 .833 1.167 0 0 0 0 0
    8 Manny Machado R 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 .200 .000 .200 0 0 0 0 0
    9 Jake Cronenworth L 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
    10 Freddy Fermin R 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 .500 .500 1.000 0 0 0 0 0
    Provided by Stathead.com: Found with Stathead. See Full Results.
    Generated 10/2/2025.

    Cubs Batters Vs Yu Darvish

    Yu Darvish vs. Chicago Cubs: Current Batters Table
    Rk Player B PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS SH SF IBB HBP GIDP
    1 Justin Turner R 27 24 5 1 0 1 1 3 10 .208 .296 .375 .671 0 0 0 0 0
    2 Dansby Swanson R 22 19 3 1 0 0 1 3 6 .158 .273 .211 .483 0 0 1 0 0
    3 Ian Happ B 14 13 2 0 0 0 2 1 6 .154 .214 .154 .368 0 0 0 0 0
    4 Nico Hoerner R 11 10 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 .200 .273 .400 .673 0 0 0 0 0
    5 Carson Kelly R 10 10 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300 .300 .300 .600 0 0 0 0 0
    6 Kyle Tucker L 6 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 .167 .167 .333 0 0 0 0 0
    7 Seiya Suzuki R 5 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 .250 .400 .500 .900 0 0 0 0 0
    8 Michael Busch L 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
    9 Pete Crow-Armstrong L 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
    Provided by Stathead.com: Found with Stathead. See Full Results.
    Generated 10/2/2025.

    Writer | Director | Author

    Short Film: Path of Two Minds
    Novel: The Great, Horrible Tragedy

    Follow Brandon Glick on Twitter: brandonglick (on BlueSky)

    Follow North Side Baseball For Chicago Cubs News & Analysis

     Share
     Share
    Go to articles

    Recent Cubs Articles

    Recent Cubs Videos


    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Featured Comments

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,013

    Posted

    If we lose we lose, whatever.  92 wins, won a playoff game, hobbled into the playoffs with arguably our 2 best starters (Steele and Horton) out and our best hitter banged up and only recently returned and doesn't seem fully locked in yet.

    Of course that's loser talk, just win, etc.  Just saying I might be upset in the immediate aftermath but overall I won't be anywhere near as disappointed as I was after past playoff eliminations.

     

    Thusly Boned

    Thusly Boned 215

    Posted

    41 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

    This tracks as his career playoff ERA is all of 0.12 runs higher than his career regular season ERA, good call. 

    And his overall playoff numbers might be better than his regular season numbers if not for the Astros' trash can shenanigans

    • Like 2
    mul21

    mul21 1,135

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

    If we lose we lose, whatever.  92 wins, won a playoff game, hobbled into the playoffs with arguably our 2 best starters (Steele and Horton) out and our best hitter banged up and only recently returned and doesn't seem fully locked in yet.

    Of course that's loser talk, just win, etc.  Just saying I might be upset in the immediate aftermath but overall I won't be anywhere near as disappointed as I was after past playoff eliminations.

     

    Yeah, this is pretty much where I am.  This team really limped to the finish (although so did a few other teams the last month or so) and not being anywhere near full strength has really reduced the level of expectations I had for them.

    Caesar

    Caesar 10

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, Caesar said:

    Relax keyboard monitor ! Is he related to you? Calm down Sally!

    Don’t discriminate against my age! Are you a little person? Not all of us can be tall!

    • Disagree 1
    ILMindState

    ILMindState 277

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, Caesar said:

    Don’t discriminate against my age! Are you a little person? Not all of us can be tall!

    It's like watching someone crash out in real time 

    Rcal10

    Rcal10 1,541

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, mul21 said:

    Yeah, this is pretty much where I am.  This team really limped to the finish (although so did a few other teams the last month or so) and not being anywhere near full strength has really reduced the level of expectations I had for them.

    I agree it was a good season, even if they lose today. They won 92 games and Steele was out almost all year. Imanaga, Taillon and Assad missed time. Tucker was out a bit. I wouldn’t say they limped into the playoffs, record wise. As you said, no different than several other teams. They got in by 9 games. That isn’t limping in. The final blow of losing Horton may do them in. But if it does and today is the last day, this has still been a solid year. I also expect them to be good again next year. 

    Bertz

    Bertz 2,650

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, Caesar said:

    Don’t discriminate against my age! Are you a little person? Not all of us can be tall!

    You did it again

    • Like 2
    Caesar

    Caesar 10

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

    It's like watching someone crash out in real time 

    Did I offend you as well? Wow.  No real men exit anymore. So sensitive.. Back to the basement you go!

    • Disagree 1
    • Haha 1
    Caesar

    Caesar 10

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Caesar said:

    Did I offend you as well? Wow.  No real men exit anymore. So sensitive.. Back to the basement you go!

    Exist! Typo hahhaahah

    Jason Ross

    Jason Ross 2,540

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, Caesar said:

    Exist! Typo hahhaahah

    Much like this website having a quote feature, posts have an edit feature so that in the future, if you make a typo, you can just fix it instead.

    Connor McConnor

    Connor McConnor 58

    Posted (edited)

    2 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

    Much like this website having a quote feature, posts have an edit feature so that in the future, if you make a typo, you can just it instead.

    I think you meant "fix" in front of it.  See I used the edit feature!!!

    Edited by Connor McConnor
    Tangled Up in Plaid

    Tangled Up in Plaid 401

    Posted

    10 minutes ago, ILMindState said:

    It's like watching someone crash out in real time 

    It's not even the first time, lol.

    Stratos

    Stratos 502

    Posted

    I love the internet.

    Jason Ross

    Jason Ross 2,540

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Connor McConnor said:

    I think you meant "fix"....instead of "it".   

    What a great time it would be for me to demonstrate what the edit feature was then

    • Like 1
    Connor McConnor

    Connor McConnor 58

    Posted

    I want Cleveland to win.  Don't want Detroit and San Diego in for some reason.  

    Jason Ross

    Jason Ross 2,540

    Posted

    Just now, Connor McConnor said:

    I want Cleveland to win.  Don't want Detroit and San Diego in for some reason.  

    My father is from Cleveland so I have a soft spot for them. 

    Tangled Up in Plaid

    Tangled Up in Plaid 401

    Posted

    I'm sort of rooting for Detroit because of Javy but I could be swayed.

    Hot Sauce

    Hot Sauce 537

    Posted

    spacer.png

    I’ve got a feeling, boys! 

    mk49

    mk49 97

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

    I also expect them to be good again next year. 

    If everyone is healthy, they would have a good SP rotation with Horton, Boyd, Shota, Steele, and Jamo.  

    CubinNY

    CubinNY 2,051

    Posted

    what time does the game start?

     

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,013

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, Connor McConnor said:

    I want Cleveland to win.  Don't want Detroit and San Diego in for some reason.  

    Still strangely upset about the 1984 playoffs? lol

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
    Brian707

    Brian707 1,519

    Posted

     

    14 minutes ago, Caesar said:

    Did I offend you as well? Wow.  No real men exit anymore. So sensitive.. Back to the basement you go!

    What The Hell Wtf GIF

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,013

    Posted

    Just now, CubinNY said:

    what time does the game start?

     

    4:08 I believe

    • Like 1
    Tangled Up in Plaid

    Tangled Up in Plaid 401

    Posted

    1 minute ago, CubinNY said:

    what time does the game start?

     

    20 minutes.

    • Like 1
    ILMindState

    ILMindState 277

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, Caesar said:

    Did I offend you as well? Wow.  No real men exit anymore. So sensitive.. Back to the basement you go!

     

    11 minutes ago, Caesar said:

    Exist! Typo hahhaahah

    Trust me, there is nothing you can say that will offend me. This might be way too advanced for you but guess what, you can double quote too! Just keep going on and talking to yourself though, it's entertaining.



    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...