The San Diego Padres completed a sweep of the Chicago Cubs in their Wild Card Series, winning the deciding game 4-1, according to the Chicago Tribune. The result ended Chicago's playoff run early, with the Tribune reporting that the Cubs' bats were quiet once more in the loss.
The New York Times described San Diego as red-hot and rolling after sending the Cubs home. MLB.com reported that the Padres clinched the series with a lights-out bullpen that was deployed to perfection, while The Athletic credited the team's stars with delivering and singled out Joe Musgrove for providing another memorable moment.
The Cubs' exit came quickly, per the Tribune's account of a lineup that could not generate offense across the series. San Diego's combination of production from its top players and sharp relief work proved decisive in closing out the matchup.
Elsewhere in the National League, ESPN listed a final score of Phillies 4-3 Braves on September 30, 2026, another result from the opening stretch of the postseason.
San Diego now advances beyond the wild-card round. What to watch next: how the Padres' bullpen and their star hitters carry that form into the next series, and whether the Cubs' quiet offense shapes their offseason plans.
