Bullpen dominates, Machado provides the pop as Padres shutout Cubs ahead of key Game 3

Manny Machado hit a two-run homer and Mason Miller dominated again as the Padres beat the Cubs 3-0 Wednesday, sending their Wild Card Series to a decisive third game.

Jackson Merrill hit an early sacrifice fly as San Diego avoided elimination after losing 3-1 on Tuesday. Dylan Cease struck out five in 3 2/3 innings before handing the ball to his team’s hard-throwing bullpen.

“That’s what postseason is about, man,” Machado said. “It’s a beautiful thing to be playing here in front of these crowds and with what’s at stake.”

The finale of the best-of-three series is back at Wrigley Field at noon Thursday, but local fans can head to the Gallagher Square watch party at Petco Park. Tickets are $5 to view the series finale on the big screen.

The playoff-tested Padres are looking for a repeat of 2020, when they dropped Game 1 in the pandemic wild-card round before advancing with two straight victories against St. Louis. Machado also homered in Game 2 of that series.

“There’s still a lot at stake just like there was today,” Machado said. “Our backs are still up against the wall, so go out there and try and play our best baseball for the next 27 outs.”

Chicago finished with four hits and manager Craig Counsell said simply, “we didn’t do enough offensively today.”

“I think the first two games is really what you expected in this series, and I think tomorrow will be a lot of the same,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

San Diego jumped in front on Merrill’s flyball to right off Andrew Kittredge in the first, driving in Fernando Tatis Jr. Kittredge started for Chicago as an opener, and the right-hander was replaced by left-hander Shota Imanaga in the second.

The Cubs threatened in the fourth, putting runners on first and second with two down. Adrian Morejon then retired Pete Crow-Armstrong on a bouncer to first.

“Adrian came in and was just outstanding, really fantastic,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said.

The Friars added two more runs on Machado’s 404-foot drive to left off Imanaga in the fifth. Tatis, who had reached on a leadoff walk and advanced on a sacrifice, turned around to watch as Machado’s 12th career playoff homer flew out of the park.

The right-fielder, known for his spirit on the field, kept watching, raising his arms and hop-skipping to third on his way home. The homer, he said, gave the Padres breathing room.

104 MPH ?

Mason Miller is bringing the heat pitching on back-to-back days! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/S6TyC8G3iB— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2025

“In the playoffs, a three-run lead is like an eight-run lead in the regular season,” Tatis said.

The three runs were more than enough for San Diego’s bullpen, with Miller and Robert Suarez combining for 14 pitches of over 100 mph.

Morejon pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings before Miller showed off his electric stuff while striking out five consecutive batters. The 6-foot-5 right-hander reached 104.5 mph on a called third strike to Carson Kelly in the seventh that was the fastest pitch in the postseason since Statcast started tracking in 2008.

Miller, who was acquired in a trade with the Athletics on July 31, struck out the side in the seventh in his postseason debut. The eight straight Ks tied the postseason record set by Josh Hader in 2022.

“Commanding has been a big part of these last two games for me and the slider being effective as well,” Miller said.

The Padres pulled him though after he hit Michael Busch with a slider with two outs in the eighth. Suarez retired Nico Hoerner on a liner to right before working a one-hit ninth for the save.

Yu Darvish gets the ball for San Diego on Thursday, facing Jameson Taillon.

Darvish played for the Cubs for three seasons before he was traded to the Padres in December 2020. The right-hander said he enjoys pitching at Wrigley.

“Yeah, this place did me good,” he said through a translator. “The organization, the fans did me good, too.”