Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres October 1st 2025

The San Diego Padres will take on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The game is set for an afternoon start at 3:08 PM and will be broadcast on ABC. The weather forecast predicts mild conditions with a light breeze and overcast clouds.

The Padres, managed by Mike Schildt, come into this game with a 0-1 record after losing their first game. They finished the regular season with a 90-72 record and placed second in the NL West. On the mound for San Diego is Dylan Cease, who has an ERA of 4.55. The Cubs, led by manager Craig Counsell, won their first game and hold a 1-0 record. They ended the regular season with a 92-70 record. Andrew Kittredge, with an ERA of 3.40, will start for the Cubs.

Padres vs Cubs Key Information

• Sport: Baseball
• Teams: San Diego Padres vs. Chicago Cubs
• Venue: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
• Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
• Betting Odds: Padres Moneyline -104, Cubs Moneyline -114

The Padres Can Win If…

The San Diego Padres are on a roll, having won their last three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In their most recent game, they secured a 12-4 victory with strong performances from Manny Machado, who went 2-for-2 with a home run, and Jackson Merrill, who had two doubles and three RBIs. This offensive power shows they can put up big numbers against any team.

The Padres’ batting lineup is a key reason they can win. They have a solid batting average of .252, ranking 5th in the league. Their ability to get on base and score runs makes them a dangerous team, with players like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez consistently contributing to the offense.

On the pitching side, Dylan Cease will start for the Padres. Although his season record is 8-12, he has shown the ability to strike out batters, with a total of 1425 strikeouts for the team this season. The Padres’ pitching staff has a strong 3.64 ERA, which ranks 3rd in the league, giving them a good chance to contain the Cubs’ lineup.

The Cubs Can Win If…

The Chicago Cubs are coming off a win against the St. Louis Cardinals with a score of 2-0. Javier Assad led the way with a strong pitching performance, going 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and no runs allowed. Seiya Suzuki contributed with a solo home run, adding to his impressive season stats.

The Cubs have shown solid offensive numbers this season, ranking 5th in slugging percentage at .430. They also rank 6th in home runs with 223, showcasing their power at the plate. Players like Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki have been key contributors, each hitting over 30 home runs this season.

On the mound, Andrew Kittredge will start for the Cubs with a 3.40 ERA and a WHIP of 0.98. This gives the Cubs a reliable option against the Padres. The Cubs’ pitching staff ranks 9th in ERA, providing a strong foundation for their defense.

Game Context And Series Outlook

The Chicago Cubs return to Wrigley Field on Wednesday night with a chance to close out the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of their National League Wild Card series. Chicago leads 1-0 after a 3-1 win in Game 1 and is looking to secure its first postseason series victory since 2017.

The Cubs broke their 108-year World Series drought in 2016 and reached the NLCS the following season. Since then, however, they’ve exited in the Wild Card round in 2018 and 2020 and missed the playoffs altogether for four straight years. This series represents a chance to reclaim postseason momentum. For team stats and postseason history, check MLB Teams.

Cubs’ Pitching Plan And Bullpen Strength

Chicago will open the game with Andrew Kittredge, followed by Shota Imanaga in bulk-relief duty. Kittredge worked a clean inning Tuesday, and the Cubs are using him strategically to avoid Imanaga’s first-inning struggles, where he has posted a 7.20 ERA this season.

Imanaga has dominated San Diego in previous meetings, going 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two starts this year and 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA in three career appearances. If he can get through the middle innings cleanly, Chicago’s bullpen has already shown it can shut the door. In Game 1, four relievers combined for 4 2/3 hitless innings, striking out four and preserving the lead flawlessly.

For detailed betting previews and pitching matchup analysis, see MLB Picks.

Padres’ Game 2 Challen

The Padres will hand the ball to Dylan Cease, who has historically pitched well against the Cubs. He carries a 4-2 career record and a 2.47 ERA in eight starts versus Chicago. Earlier this season, he allowed three runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings against them.

San Diego’s offense must be sharper than in Game 1, when Jackson Merrill scored their only run and the middle of the order was largely contained. Merrill has hit .308 against Chicago this year and remains a key table-setter, while Xander Bogaerts drove him in with an RBI double. The Padres need more production from the heart of their lineup to break through Chicago’s deep bullpen.

Check MLB Scores and Odds for updated game lines and totals.

Key Matchups To Watch

The opening innings will be critical. If Kittredge successfully navigates the top of San Diego’s order and Imanaga settles in, the Cubs can control the game early. Chicago’s power bats, led by Seiya Suzuki—who homered again Tuesday and has six long balls in five games—will test Cease’s ability to limit damage at a hitter-friendly Wrigley Field.

The bullpen matchup also leans Chicago’s way. Their relievers are rested and in rhythm, while San Diego may need length from Cease to avoid overexposing its pen.

Handicapper Spotlight – Last 7 Days

The hottest handicappers of the past week are showing sharp form on the diamond, with several names standing out for both consistency and profitability.

Al Grant leads the pack with a 7-2 record over nine bets, cashing at a 77.78% win rate and netting $600. His recent streak has been driven by strong read accuracy on totals and moneyline underdogs.

Close behind is Computer Picks, posting an impressive 85.71% win rate (6-1) for $490 net profit, showing excellent efficiency with a lower volume of plays.

Gino De Luca continues to deliver steady returns, going 5-2 and generating $350 profit thanks to well-timed selections on high-value lines.

Sas Insider remains one of the most active bettors, with 37 plays in the last seven days and a balanced 20-17 record, good for a $337 profit. Volume has been key to their consistent gains.

Rounding out the top five is Coach Rick, who went 6-3 over nine bets with a 66.67% win rate, adding $325 to his total. His disciplined approach has kept him reliably profitable in recent slates.

This level of form from multiple handicappers adds extra insight for those tracking MLB playoff action and late-season betting edges.

Betting Trends

The Cubs have been strong at Wrigley Field recently, winning seven of their last nine home games and covering the run line in four of their last five postseason games in Chicago. They’ve also taken five of their last six matchups against the Padres overall.

San Diego’s road postseason form has been shaky, with just three wins in their last 10 road playoff games, and they’ve struggled recently as underdogs, losing four of their last five in that role.

The matchup itself has historically leaned low-scoring. The under has hit in five of the last seven Cubs–Padres meetings, and Chicago has won three straight postseason games against San Diego.

For additional playoff betting strategies and line movement analysis, consult the MLB Expert Betting Guide (general concepts apply across leagues).

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The Lean

The Cubs are slightly favored with a moneyline of -114 against the Padres at -104. The Cubs have a better slugging percentage and more home runs, which could give them the edge. My model projects the Cubs to win with a score of 4-3.

The total for the game is set at 6.5 runs. Both teams have strong pitching, with the Padres having the top batting average against. This suggests a low-scoring game. My model projects a total of 7 runs, so the recommendation is to take the over at 6.5 (-118).

Final Prediction

The Cubs have momentum, pitching depth, and a favorable setup with Imanaga in bulk relief. Cease gives the Padres a fighting chance, but their offense hasn’t shown enough consistency to exploit Chicago’s staff. Wrigley’s atmosphere, combined with the Cubs’ bullpen advantage, should help them finish the job.

Predicted Score: Chicago Cubs 4 – San Diego Padres 2

Chicago is the pick on the moneyline to clinch at home. The spread leans toward Cubs -1.5, and the total trends under 8 runs based on both pitching matchups and recent series history.

For more postseason insights and series previews, visit MLB Picks.