San Diego Padres vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Odds and Wild Card Picks for Today, 10/01/25

The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs will play Game 2 of their Wild Card Series on Wednesday afternoon. The Cubs took Game 1 by a score of 3-1, behind a strong pitching effort by the staff as a whole. They were also very much aided by the afternoon shadows which made it hard on hitters for both squads. That is a factor again on Wednesday. If I am being honest, I do not think the Cubs have a sustainable pitching model to succeed in the playoffs, and I think it will catch up with them when they play a series longer than 3 games, but I think they are going to get away with it in the Wild Card round. My best bet for Wednesday is the Cubs on the Money Line to close out this series.

The pitching matchup could be a concern for both sides. For the Padres, it will be Dylan Cease. To be blunt, Cease has been awful all season, especially by his standards. His recent game log might suggest he has figured some things out again, but I am fearful that might be smoke and mirrors from catching the Rockies twice. He is still walking way too many people, and he gives up a lot of hard contact, largely because of bad location. The Padres will have little choice but to yank him if he gets in trouble early. For the Cubs, it will be Shota Imanaga pitching behind an opener, it appears. Imanaga has been hit hard over the past several weeks, but I don’t think the Cubs are looking for a lot out of him. Maybe 3 or 4 innings, and then it will be right back to the bullpen arms? Working in his favor is that the bulk of the hitters in this San Diego lineup are lefties, and if he neutralizes them once through the order, it might be enough to give Chicago what they need. I like the Cubs in this spot.

Padres vs Cubs prediction: Cubs ML (-120) available at the time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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