The San Diego Padres swept the Chicago Cubs out of the National League Wild Card Series on Wednesday night, securing a 4-1 victory at Petco Park behind a pinch-hit home run from Gavin Sheets. San Diego advances to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS beginning Saturday.
A season defined by extreme highs and lows for the Chicago Cubs ended abruptly on Wednesday night in Southern California. Following a dominant 8-0 victory in Game 1, the Padres returned to Petco Park for Game 2 and finished off the sweep, outscoring the Cubs 12-1 across the two-game series in front of frenzied sellout crowds according to local broadcasting reports.
Kevin Gausman took the mound for the Cubs in Game 2, pitching through a bothersome left shoulder injury sustained while diving for a ball in the final inning of his previous start. Gausman surrendered three runs in 3 1/3 innings, noting afterward that he wished he could have been at full health. Chicago manager Craig Counsell inserted Matt Shaw into the lineup at third base in place of Pedro Ramirez for the matchup against Padres starter Nick Pivetta. Offensively, the Cubs managed just eight hits—seven singles—over 18 innings against San Diego.
How Gavin Sheets and the Padres Bullpen Sealed the Sweep in Game 2
Playing through a plantar plate tear in his left foot all summer that limited his defensive availability, Gavin Sheets delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs and a runner aboard against right-hander Daniel Palencia, Sheets connected on a pitch delivered down and in, driving a pinch-hit, two-run home run that sent Petco Park into delirium. Ethan Salas, who became the youngest player in major league history to catch a postseason game and the youngest player at any position with a postseason sacrifice fly since at least 1954, drove in a run during the contest.
Five San Diego pitchers combined on a five-hitter to protect the lead, shutting down a Chicago lineup that had led the major leagues in regular-season runs. Xander Bogaerts drove in the game’s first run for San Diego, while Manny Machado appeared in his eighth career postseason.
Why the Cubs Offense Vanished in the Postseason
Despite opening the 2026 campaign with a 27-12 stretch featuring two separate 10-game winning streaks followed by a 10-game losing streak and finishing 62-61 thereafter, the Cubs struggled to maintain consistency down the stretch. In the postseason, their offensive production dissolved entirely. The team managed just eight hits—seven of them singles—over 18 innings against the Padres pitching staff.
According to OptaSTATS data cited by the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs produced a slugging percentage of .145, marking the lowest mark in a multi-game postseason series in Major League Baseball history, surpassing the 2020 Minnesota Twins at .153, the 2022 Tampa Bay Rays at .154, the 1998 Texas Rangers at .174, and the 2019 St. Louis Cardinals at .179. Designated hitter Alex Bregman went 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in the series, while center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong acknowledged his lack of contribution at the plate following a season where he achieved a 40-40 campaign.
“The goal is to win and we didn’t play well enough to do that. So, it’s time to look in the mirror and get better. And I know myself, and a lot of these guys will be thinking about it every day of the off-season and let it fuel us. Just not good enough. Need to get better in all areas.”
Alex Bregman, Chicago Cubs designated hitter
Cubs manager Craig Counsell addressed the media after the elimination, stating that the team simply did not play well enough against an opponent performing at a high level. Sweet revenge was complete for the Padres, who were eliminated by the Cubs in the 2025 Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field.
What Awaits the Padres in the National League Division Series Against Milwaukee
The Padres now travel to Wisconsin to face the Milwaukee Brewers, who earned the best record in baseball with 102 wins and secured home-field advantage through the World Series according to scheduling details. Game 1 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, in Milwaukee, where tickets are available starting at $127 for games in San Diego as ticket marketplaces outline. The winner of the series advances to the National League Championship Series, with the 2026 postseason schedule running through the World Series starting on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.