The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs are set to clash in the 2026 wild-card series, marking a rematch of last year’s wild-card encounter.
In 2025, the Cubs triumphed over the Padres in three games. That series, however, took place at Wrigley Field.
This time, the teams will battle it out at the lively Petco Park, where the Padres aim to advance to the National League Division Series for the second time within three years. The victor of this series will meet the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series.
On Monday, both teams revealed their starting pitchers for Game 1.
Padres vs Cubs Starting Pitchers for Wild-Card Game 1
Padres RHP Michael King vs Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd
King, the undisputed ace of the Padres this season, is taking the mound for Game 1.
The right-hander concluded the season with a record of 12-10, a 3.21 ERA, and 159 strikeouts in 185 innings. His performance was even stronger in the second half, finishing 6-3 with a 2.93 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 76.2 innings.
“He had a fantastic season, and I think, first and foremost, he would say he’s been healthy all year,” Padres manager Craig Stammen remarked about King. “He made all of his starts, which isn’t something I can say for our entire rotation. He was incredibly essential to our team, providing stability when things were uncertain.
“So Michael has been our reliable player throughout the year, and we’ll keep relying on him during the postseason.”
King had one relief appearance against the Cubs during last year’s wild-card series, striking out three in one scoreless inning during Game 3. He also had two postseason starts for the Padres in 2024, allowing five runs in 12 innings with 15 strikeouts and just one walk.
“I fully expect the same electric atmosphere I experienced in ‘24 [during the playoffs at Petco Park],” King conveyed. “That’s why it’s crucial for us to secure home-field advantage for the wild-card. It’s a unique place to play competitive baseball.”
Regarding Boyd, he made 22 starts this season, holding a 3.91 ERA over 126.2 innings with 96 strikeouts and 39 walks.
The left-hander pitched against the Padres in both series the teams faced this season.
On April 27, Boyd allowed five runs on eight hits across four innings in the Cubs’ only loss to the Padres this season. On June 30, he conceded three runs on eight hits over five innings with two strikeouts.
Boyd has participated in seven career postseason games, achieving an impressive 1.66 ERA over 21.2 innings. He started Game 1 of last year’s wild-card series against the Padres, yielding one run across 4.1 innings.
How to Watch Padres vs Cubs Wild-Card Game 1
The first pitch for Game 1 on Tuesday, Sept. 29 is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET. The match will be aired on Peacock and NBCSN.
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