The regular season is over, and for the first time since 2020, the Cubs (92-70) are going to the playoffs. They secured the first Wild Card spot by winning over 90 games for just the 10th time since 1945. Finishing first in the WC means Chicago earned the right to host all three games of their series against the Padres that begins Tuesday afternoon.
The Padres (90-72) finished right behind the North Siders and have one of the most talented rosters in all of baseball. They battled the defending World Series champion Dodgers for the NL West division title until the final week of the season.