Forum
Forum Navigation
2025 NL Wild Card Series: San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs: Sept 30-Oct 2
#1 · September 29, 2025, 4:59 pm
Tuesday, September 30 - 12:08pm, TV:
RHP Nick Pivetta(13-5, 2.87 ERA, 190 K, .195 BAA) vs LHP Matthew Boyd(14-8, 3.21 ERA, 154 K, .235 BAA)
Wednesday, October 1 - 12:08pm, TV:
RHP Dylan Cease(8-12, 4.55 ERA, 215 K, .239 BAA) vs ?HP ???(---, -.-- ERA, --- K, .--- BAA)
Thursday, October 2 - 12:08pm, TV:
RHP Yu Darvish(5-5, 5.38 ERA, 68 K, .245 BAA) vs ?HP ???(---, -.-- ERA, --- K, .--- BAA)
Well, the postseason is finally here and the Padres head to the windy city to play the Cubs, which has been said is a rematch from the 1984 season. Only in 1984 it was the NLCS and it was 5 games. The Padres are fortunate not to have to face Cubs ace Cade Horton, who is on the 15-day IL.
I am shocked that King is not starting game 2. He should be. Instead, Cease, who has not been good all season long, is starting. Darvish has not been good this season either. Maybe King will be brought in if Cease falters. I would think that Imananga starts for the Cubs in game 2.
The Cubs may have lost Horton, but the Padres lost Laureano for the series. But, Merrill has been playing very well in September. Since September 7, he has batted .309 AVG, 7 HR, and 16 RBI.
The Reds will play the Dodgers and I hope the Dodgers are sent home early. In game 1, it will be Hunter Greene vs Blake Snell.
GO PADRES!
#2 · September 30, 2025, 9:13 am
If the Padres offense can maintain the same rhythm that they had at PETCO against the Snakes, it should be a very competitive series. Teams are actually very similar in many facets of the game but Cubs have flashed more power which is understandable given their home field. Padres, as a group, have hit the ball harder down the stretch so it might come down to which pitching staff can keep the ball in the yard better.
Cease will be on a very short leash and I'm hoping we get the very good Cease, however, we need Pivetta to lead us to that opening playoff day victory to give us Padres fans hope for a playoff series in San Diego.
GO PADRES!!!!
#3 · September 30, 2025, 9:45 am
Campusano and Maldonado are both on the roster with Diaz left off. McCoy is the only real surprise to me as they left Matsui off to carry 14 position players.
#4 · September 30, 2025, 10:04 am
Quote from Jeremy Hill on September 30, 2025, 9:45 amCampusano and Maldonado are both on the roster with Diaz left off. McCoy is the only real surprise to me as they left Matsui off to carry 14 position players.
Here’s the roster in full:
Catchers (3): Freddy Fermin, Martín Maldonado, Luis Campusano
Infield (7): Ryan O’Hearn, Luis Arraez, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado, Jose Iglesias, Mason McCoy
Outfield (4): Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Gavin Sheets, Bryce Johnson
Starters (5): Nick Pivetta, Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish, Michael King, Randy Vásquez
Relievers (7): Robert Suarez, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada, David Morgan, Wandy Peralta, Bradgley Rodriguez
#5 · September 30, 2025, 10:10 am
Some were worried about an overly LHH line-up ... so dropping Wagner (L) and keeping the more defensive versatile McCoy allows Iglesias to be a RHH in the starting line-up (or PH) as needed. If in the starting line-up that puts a LHH on the bench to PH later in the game if a RHP comes in.
Matsui who just has not been pitching well allows them to go with 3 catchers opening some PH role (probably for RHH Campusano) while keeping a back-up (Maldonado) for emergency.
#6 · September 30, 2025, 10:38 am
Quote from fenn68 on September 30, 2025, 10:10 amSome were worried about an overly LHH line-up ... so dropping Wagner (L) and keeping the more defensive versatile McCoy allows Iglesias to be a RHH in the starting line-up (or PH) as needed. If in the starting line-up that puts a LHH on the bench to PH later in the game if a RHP comes in.
Matsui who just has not been pitching well allows them to go with 3 catchers opening some PH role (probably for RHH Campusano) while keeping a back-up (Maldonado) for emergency.
Curious who the first RH pinch hitter off the bench will be?
Iglesias or Campy?
If Iglesias, it leaves us with only McCoy if anything happens to an infielder.
If Campy isn't going to Catch...which appears to be the case....my guess is he's there to PH.
It would be incredible,if after the season he's had both in the Majors and in AAA,he get's a huge PH late in a game
LynchMob has reacted to this post.
LynchMob
#7 · September 30, 2025, 12:33 pm
HORRIBLE!!!
Runner at 3rd, no outs.....no run!
Bogaerts....gotta go on contact!
O'Hearn and Sheets....drive the ball to the outfield!
Hope this doesn't come down to 1 run.
LynchMob has reacted to this post.
LynchMob
#8 · September 30, 2025, 1:06 pm
Ryan O'Hearn better figure out what the hell he's doin' REAL fast!
He is, as of right now, public enemy #1 in San Diego County.
2 times up with runner on 3rd and only 1 out.....and he's hit the ball a total of 200 feet, stranding BOTH runners!!!!!
lafnboy13 and LynchMob have reacted to this post.
lafnboy13LynchMob
#9 · September 30, 2025, 1:11 pm
#10 · September 30, 2025, 1:34 pm
Quote from WindsorUK on September 30, 2025, 1:06 pmRyan O'Hearn better figure out what the hell he's doin' REAL fast!
He is, as of right now, public enemy #1 in San Diego County.
2 times up with runner on 3rd and only 1 out.....and he's hit the ball a total of 200 feet, stranding BOTH runners!!!!!
Facing a tough LHP he hit that the ball hard in that first AB ... plus play by Swanson saved a single. The second one also took a excellent play by Swanson on the blooper to the OF. Swanson should be the enemy #1.
Side: not sure why Machado on that pop fly was not tagged up ... clearly Swanson was going all out away from the plate ... if the ball dropped Machado would easily have made it and given the momentum of Swanson could have scored on a catch given making a throw from that position is very very difficult.
On the first, with none out early and given the horrible track record of the Padres going on contact, not upset with holding. Actually the ball was hit hard and Swanson made a good play ... could easily see Bogaerts being thrown out at the plate ... and that would be criticized as a bad move with no out.
lafnboy13 and LynchMob have reacted to this post.
lafnboy13LynchMob