How 3 Key Cubs Hitters Matchup with Padres Game 1 Starter Michael King

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Some 162 games ago, we were all anxious and downright curious as to what the Chicago Cubs 2026 season would look like. Well, the regular season has now concluded, and despite what occasionally felt like a disappointing season, Chicago managed to get into the postseason with a record of 89-73. That earned them the No. 5 seed in the National League, meaning they're on the road in the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres, in a rematch of the set last year at Wrigley Field. Chicago defeated San Diego 2-1 in the best-of-three series last season and will be looking to do the same again this season, to advance to the NLDS for a second consecutive season.

Game 1 will feature left-hander Matthew Boyd taking the mound for the visitors. Boyd will be opposed by right-hander Michael King, in his first postseason start since the 2024 NLDS. Most Cubs hitters don't have a massive sample size to dig into, but there's one player in particular who's feasted against King, and there are other season-long trends to keep in mind when gearing up for Game 1. Here are three Cubs hitters that could play a major role.

Alex Bregman
Bregman has the second-most at-bats (eight) against King of any player likely to be on the roster. He's done quite well for himself in those eight at-bats. Bregman is 7-for-8 with an RBI, two doubles and two walks against King in his career.

King did not face Chicago this season, so Bregman's last two at-bats against him came in August of last season. Both of those resulted in doubles to left field. If Bregman's 4-for-4 performance in Game 162 was any indication of how locked-in he is at the plate, then his performance in Game 1 has a chance to be game-changing.

Pete Crow-Armstrong
Of course, the favorite for NL MVP makes the list. Crow-Armstrong has just one at-bat (0-for-1, K) against King, but this matchup is more about King's pitch selection and Crow-Armstrong's ability to recognize pitches and lay off of them.

King's best weapon, against lefties, is his changeup. Opponents hit just .204 on his changeup during the regular season, and they only hit four homers on it. Crow-Armstrong feasted on non-fastballs during the season. He slugged .531 with seven doubles and 14 home runs against breaking balls, and those figures were .621 with 10 doubles and eight homers against offspeed pitches.

Knowing that, it's likely that King will try to attack him with fastballs up in the zone, as that's one spot where he's shown both the tendency to chase and a vulnerability to whiffs. The first at-bat of the game should tell a lot about San Diego's plan, and that will set the tone for what to expect the second time around. It's worth noting that King struck Crow-Armstrong out on an elevated fastball in Game 3 of last year's Wild Card Series, but that was not the same creature who'll step into the batter's box Tuesday night.

Michael Conforto
Conforto's inclusion in the lineup depends on Bregman's ability to play third base. If Bregman is able to return to his normal position, the DH spot would open up, and it would probably be Conforto who fills that role: he's put up gaudy numbers against pitches that match King's profile this year.

On sinkers, sweepers and changeups from right-handed pitchers throwing from low arm slots in the vertical movement band King generates on his offerings, Conforto has been worth 5.6 runs above average per 100 pitches seen this year. Next-best on the team against that suite of traits is Crow-Armstrong, at 2.3. When an at-bat ends on one of those offerings, Conforto is hitting .476/.542/.952. The sample is small, and King is better than the average pitcher in this class, and there are a couple of other wrinkles in King's arsenal, but Conforto is an excellent matchup for the San Diego righty. He could strike a huge blow in this game, if Bregman's health makes room for him on the lineup card.

So, there it is, a look at three players that could define the game offensively for Chicago. If none of those three players are able to get good swings off against King, then it may have to be an unlikely hero stepping up and being the productive bat in what will a crucial Game 1 of the series.