Cubs vs. Padres final score, results: Chicago survives late San Diego threat to reach NLDS

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It didn’t come easily, but the Chicago Cubs have punched their ticket to the NLDS for the first time since 2017.

A 13-hit effort by the Cubs in Thursday’s Game 3 only saw the offense put three runs on the board, including a home run from Michael Busch, but for eight innings, Craig Counsell’s pitching staff held it down. Jameson Taillon gave the Cubs four shutout innings, and the bullpen handled the San Diego Padres’ lineup until the ninth inning, when Brad Keller came in for his second frame and lost control.

Keller allowed a leadoff home run to Jackson Merrill, trimming Chicago’s lead to two, and hit back-to-back batters after a generous call got him a strikeout of Xander Bogaerts. Andrew Kittredge replaced Keller and settled down a nervous Wrigley Field crowd, inducing a ground ball and a fly ball to work around the trouble and fly the “W” flag.

Yu Darvish was unable to escape the second inning for the Padres after loading the bases with no outs. San Diego might have been fortunate to escape the jam having only allowed two runs, but its offense couldn’t muster more than one.

The Cubs will face a familiar foe in the NLDS in the Milwaukee Brewers, ensuring the NL Central will be represented in the NLCS for the first time since 2018 and reuniting Counsell with the organization he spent time with as both a player and manager before controversially bolting after the 2023 season. 

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The Sporting News tracked live updates and highlights from Padres vs. Cubs in Game 3 of the 2025 National League Wild Card Series. 

Cubs vs. Padres final score

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Cubs vs. Padres updates, highlights from NL Wild Card Game 3

THE @CUBS HANG ON AND ADVANCE! #CLINCHED

(MLB x @BudweiserUSA) pic.twitter.com/Q7BHeXkOQp

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2025

8:08 p.m. — A red-hot Freddy Fermin is the Padres’ last chance.

8:07 p.m. — Matt Shaw just barely gets Cronenworth at first on a soft ground ball, but the Padres are going to challenge this one. Replay shows Cronenworth is clearly out. San Diego will have runners on second and third with two outs.

8:03 p.m. — Now Keller hits Johnson on a pitch that wasn’t even close to reaching home plate. He has put two runners on and is coming out of the game. The tying run is at first base, and Andrew Kittredge is coming in.

Back-to-back hit batters and Jake Cronenworth is coming to the plate as the go-ahead run pic.twitter.com/8H2bEaaru8

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 3, 2025

8:00 p.m. — O’Hearn is hit by a pitch, and pinch-hitter Bryce Johnson represents the tying run. 

7:59 p.m. — Bogaerts strikes out on a pitch that, well, was not a strike. The Cubs are two outs away.

This was called a called strike-three on Bogaerts. pic.twitter.com/LimNP2V5b2

— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) October 2, 2025

Cubs 3, Padres 1

7:57 p.m. HOME RUN — Jackson Merrill sends one into the basket! The Padres aren’t dead yet and pull within two to start the ninth.

Jackson Merrill leads off the 9th inning with a homer 👀#Postseason pic.twitter.com/K4dKHcOKoO

— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2025

7:54 p.m. — The Cubs fail to add on, and the Padres have to put together a significant rally to extend this game. Jackson Merrill, Xander Bogaerts and Ryan O’Hearn are due up.

7:52 p.m. — Crow-Armstrong is called out upon review, putting a dagger in that threat by the Cubs. Morgan is now an out away from getting out of the inning.

7:49 p.m. — Make it a three-hit day for Crow-Armstrong, who singles off David Morgan and proceeds to steal second. The Cubs have a runner in scoring position with one out.

7:44 p.m. — Brad Keller induces a pair of ground balls and has the Cubs three outs away from their first trip to the NLDS since 2017.

7:40 p.m. — Fermin advances to second on a wild pitch with Arraez at the plate.

7:39 p.m. — Down goes Tatis, who is 0-for-4 today with three strikeouts.

7:38 p.m. — Freddy Fermin stays hot and leads off the eighth inning with a single to left. Tatis is up with a runner on.

Cubs 3, Padres 0

7:34 p.m. — Morejon gets out of it with a strikeout of Suzuki, but the Padres’ offense desperately needs a rally.

7:31 p.m. — The Cubs challenge an out call at home after Arraez gets Hoerner, but the call is upheld: Hoerner is out.

7:27 p.m. — Hoerner moves to third on a sacrifice bunt by Happ.

7:25 p.m. — Nico Hoerner narrowly misses a home run of his own and settles for a double off the ivy. Suarez is coming out of the game for Adrian Morejon, but it could be too little, too late for the Padres.

Cubs 3, Padres 0

7:24 p.m. HOME RUN — Michael Busch takes Suarez deep for a massive insurance run! The Cubs are up 3-0.

MICHAEL BUSCH.

GOODBYE! #POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/qMIRao3NQW

— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2025

7:20 p.m. — Jake Cronenworth flies out, and the Padres are down to their final six outs. 

7:19 p.m. — Now it’s Nico Hoerner making a terrific defensive play! He leaps to snag a line drive from pinch-hitter Jose Iglesias for the second out. 

NICO HOERNER’S TURN ⭐️#POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/d0tW4GNWvB

— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2025

7:17 p.m. — Bogaerts steals second, upheld upon review, so the Padres have a runner in scoring position here in the seventh.

7:15 p.m. — Pomeranz gets O’Hearn to fly out to center for the first out.

7:10 p.m. — Bogaerts leads off the seventh with a single as Drew Pomeranz enters the game for the Cubs.

End of sixth inning: Cubs 2, Padres 0

7:05 p.m. — Suarez gets Swanson and Shaw to strike out, and the Padres again hold the Cubs right where they are. Can San Diego’s offense take advantage?

7:00 p.m. — Robert Suarez is in for San Diego, and back-to-back singles from Kelly and Crow-Armstrong have the Cubs threatening with one out. 

6:53 p.m. — Swanson is putting on a clinic, as he initiates an inning-ending double play. The Cubs are now nine outs away.

6:50 p.m. — What a play by Swanson to get Arraez, who misses a chance to give the Padres a leadoff runner for the second time today.

DANSBY SWANSON IS PUTTING ON A CLINIC!

He’s been torturing Luis Arraez today pic.twitter.com/8EFLWIrIFY

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 2, 2025

End of fifth inning: Cubs 2, Padres 0

6:47 p.m. — Peralta works out of trouble as Tucker grounds out. That’s the first time Tucker has been retired today. The Padres hold again but, down to their 12 final outs, need to start scoring runs.

6:44 p.m. — Ian Happ doubles into the gap, so Peralta is fortunate Hoerner grounded into the double play.

6:42 p.m. — Nico Hoerner erases Michael Busch with a double play.

6:39 p.m. — Wandy Peralta is in for King, who isn’t asked to go more than one inning.

6:37 p.m. — Palencia gets Tatis to fly out and ends the threat, keeping the Padres scoreless through five.

6:35 p.m. — Freddy Fermin laces a two-out double down the left field line, but it’s not enough for Sheets to score. The Padres have runners on second and third with Tatis coming to the plate. Palencia needs one more out.

6:32 p.m. — Thielbar picks up his second strikeout of the inning, and Counsell is bringing in Daniel Palencia just as he planned.

6:30 p.m. — Thielbar gives up a one-out single to Gavin Sheets.

6:28 p.m. — Craig Counsell is going to his bullpen early despite Taillon’s dominance. Caleb Thielbar is entering the game with three left-handed hitters coming to the plate.

End of fourth inning: Cubs 2, Padres 0

6:26 p.m. — King strikes out three consecutive Cubs to work around Kelly’s leadoff hit. The Padres will be looking to King to provide some length after heavy bullpen usage in Game 2.

6:19 p.m. — Michael King is in the game for Estrada, and Carson Kelly leads off the bottom of the first with a single in front of Tatis. 

6:15 p.m. — Taillon works around the trouble as Xander Bogaerts harmlessly pops out to Swanson. He’s through four scoreless.

6:13 p.m. — San Diego has its first runner in scoring position as Jackson Merrill doubles to right with two outs.

6:09 p.m. — An interesting moment as Swanson drops a line drive by Luis Arraez but still gets the out as Arraez appeared to slow down while running to first. The Padres miss a chance to get their second baserunner of the game.

End of third inning: Cubs 2, Padres 0

6:05 p.m. — Estrada gets Suzuki to strike out, working around the two-out single from Tucker.

6:03 p.m. — Here’s what Cubs fans want to see: a 2-for-2 day for Kyle Tucker, who laces a two-out single off Estrada in the third.

5:58 p.m. — Taillon puts together a brilliant third inning, striking out Tatis to close out a 1-2-3 frame. The single from O’Hearn that was nearly snagged by Hoerner remains the only blemish on Taillon today.

End of second inning: Cubs 2, Padres 0

5:52 p.m. — Estrada gets Busch to ground into a double play, and that’s about the best the Padres could’ve hoped for at this point. The Cubs lead 2-0, but San Diego remains within striking distance.

The @Padres limit the damage with a timely double play! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/YMwAMQOOxA

— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2025

5:47 p.m. — Estrada strikes out Matt Shaw, so the Padres finally get the first out they desperately needed.

Cubs 2, Padres 0

5:46 p.m. RBI WALK — Estrada walks Dansby Swanson, and the Cubs now have a 2-run lead.

Cubs 1, Padres 0

5:40 p.m. RBI SINGLE — Crow-Armstrong keeps the line moving and dunks one in for an RBI single! The bases remain loaded with no one out. Yu Darvish is coming out of this game for Jeremiah Estrada.

PCA!

The @Cubs score first in Game 3! pic.twitter.com/1zeDFppRbf

— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2025

5:37 p.m. — Now Darvish hits Kelly to loaded the bases with nobody out. PCA has a chance to put his second half struggles behind him here.

5:35 p.m. — Here come the Cubs: Kyle Tucker leads off the second inning with a single, and Seiya Suzuki follows him up with a double down the left field line. Chicago has runners on second and third with Carson Kelly coming to the plate.

Seiya Suzuki doubles off Yu Darvish and the Cubs are all set up pic.twitter.com/HH8wwjWrDf

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 2, 2025

5:31 p.m. — Taillon fools Sheets and picks up his second strikeout of the day to end the inning.

5:29 p.m. — Taillon gets the first two outs before Ryan O’Hearn lines a ball off Nico Hoerner’s glove for a single. Gavin Sheets will step to the plate with two outs and O’Hearn at first.

End of first inning: Padres 0, Cubs 0

5:22 p.m. — Nico Hoerner is called safe on a stolen base attempt, but the Padres are challenging the call and appear to be right. They’re leaving the field…and they are correct. Freddy Fermin gets Hoerner to end a scoreless first inning.

5:20 p.m. — Ian Happ goes down on strikes for the second out. Shadows are going to be a major factor early in this game, though this one should finish under the lights after starting two hours later than the first two games in this series. 

5:18 p.m. — Nico Hoerner’s speed prevents a double play, but he grounds into the first out of the inning.

5:17 p.m. — Michael Busch laces a leadoff single off Yu Darvish to fire up an already raucous Wrigley Field crowd.

5:14 p.m. — Crow-Armstrong makes a diving grab to end the inning! Taillon works a 1-2-3 first inning. 

Pete Crow-Armstrong. Electric. pic.twitter.com/lJSVHGr6xk

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 2, 2025

5:12 p.m. — The wind is blowing out and pushes Luis Arraez’s fly ball to the warning track, but it lands harmlessly in the glove of Pete Crow-Armstrong. Here comes Manny Machado with two outs.

5:11 p.m. — Jameson Taillon starts his day with a strikeout of Fernando Tatis Jr. 

5:04 p.m. — First pitch is minutes away. Let’s have some fun.

4:56 p.m. — No surprises for the Cubs as they look for their first postseason series win since 2017.

October baseball at the Friendly Confines! pic.twitter.com/qmGbXxmfcs

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 1, 2025

4:45 p.m. — Here’s who the Padres are running out for Game 3:

Let’s play three. pic.twitter.com/sZ8OTfNMnI

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 2, 2025

Where to watch Cubs vs. Padres today

Padres vs. Cubs start time

• Date: Thursday, October 2
• Time: 5 p.m. ET

Game 3 of the Padres and Cubs in the NL Wild Card Series will begin at 5 p.m. ET from Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. 

What channel is Padres vs. Cubs on today?

San Diego vs. Chicago in the NL Wild Card round will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Kevin Brown will handle the play-by-play, while Jessica Mendoza and Ben McDonald will be on hand as the analysts on the broadcast. 

You can also stream the MLB Wild Card games live with the new ESPN app, or on Fubo. 

MLB playoff schedule 2025