Cubs Face Padres in Decisive NL Wild Card Game 3

CHICAGO, Illinois – The Chicago Cubs take on the San Diego Padres in a decisive Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series on Thursday night at Wrigley Field. The winner will move on to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Division Series.

This is the Cubs’ first postseason appearance since the shortened 2020 season. The team secured a wild card spot thanks to a crucial offseason trade for star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who was previously with the Houston Astros.

“Kyle brings a winning pedigree, having won a World Series,” said Cubs manager David Ross. “We’re counting on him to perform on this big stage.”

The game is set to begin at 5:08 p.m. ET, with betting odds nearly even. Chicago holds a slight edge at -115, while San Diego is at -105. The over/under for total runs is set at 7.5.

Tucker’s performance this season has been solid, ending with a .266 batting average, .841 OPS, 22 homeruns, and 73 RBIs over 136 games. However, he has struggled in the postseason, going 1-for-7 so far with two strikeouts.

Despite his slow start, Tucker has excelled with runners on base, boasting a 152 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) statistic this season, which ranks among the best in the league. “In clutch situations, Kyle has been fantastic,” noted Ross.

In Game 3, Tucker will bat cleanup against veteran right-hander Yu Darvish, who posted a 5.38 ERA this season. Tucker has had limited success against Darvish, recording one hit in six at-bats without striking out.

“If I can get on base, I know Kyle can help drive me in,” said teammate Ian Happ. “We all need to step up and do our part.”

As the series approaches a crucial moment, all eyes will be on Tucker and the Cubs to deliver the performance they need to advance in the playoffs.