The Chicago Cubs had home-field advantage when they faced the San Diego Padres in a National League Wild Card matchup last postseason and capitalized, winning their first playoff series since 2017. The Padres have the luxury of hosting the rematch this year and hope to end the Cubs' campaign on Wednesday. Make your MLB and NHL picks at BetMGM Sportsbook with promo code CBSSPORTS and get up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses: San Diego looks to advance to the NL Division Series when it takes on Chicago at 10 p.m.
ET in Game 2 of their Wild Card showdown at Petco Park. After stranding the tying run at second base in the ninth inning of a 3-1 loss in the decisive third game at Wrigley Field last postseason, the Padres posted a dominant 8-0 victory in Tuesday's opener and can make their third trip to the NLDS in five years with a win on Wednesday. Michael King held the Cubs to one hit over seven innings and Fernando Tatis Jr. set the tone by homering on the first pitch of the game by Chicago's Matthew Boyd as San Diego banged out 13 hits.
Manny Machado also went deep in the first inning, and Xander Bogaerts added a solo shot in the fourth for the Padres, who have gone 18-3 since Sept. 6. San Diego has scored at least eight runs in three consecutive contests, and it eclipsed its total (five) from last year's series against Chicago with Tuesday's performance. The Padres attempt to end this matchup behind right-hander Nick Pivetta, who will be making just his fifth start since returning from a nearly five-month absence due to an elbow injury.
The 33-year-old has allowed a total of three runs over 18 2/3 innings in his four outings since rejoining the rotation. The Cubs turn to Kevin Gausman as they hope to force a Game 3. The 35-year-old righty, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline in early August, has yielded fewer than three runs in three of his last four starts but came away with just one victory during that stretch.
The American League Wild Card Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox continues Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. ET with Game 2 at Yankee Stadium. New York, which eliminated Boston in three games in their Wild-Card showdown last year, drew first blood this postseason with a 9-0 triumph as Ben Rice went 4-for-5 with two homers -- including a grand slam -- and six RBI.
Meanwhile, AL Cy Young Award favorite Cam Schlittler recorded 10 strikeouts and gave up two hits in 6 1/3 innings. Boston looks to register more than three hits when it faces left-hander Max Fried, who limited the Red Sox to one run and six hits over 11 2/3 frames in two starts this year. The AL leader in wins with a career-high 18, former Yankee Sonny Gray, tries to keep Boston's season alive.
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