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The San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs will play a pivotal, winner-take-all Game 3 in the NL Wild Card Series on Thursday, October 2. The series is tied at one game apiece, with the Cubs winning the opener and the Padres taking Game 2.
San Diego will be putting the ball in Yu Darvish’s hands, and he will face his former team. He was with Chicago from 2018-2020, but has been with the Padres since 2021. Darvish tallied a 5-5 record over 15 regular-season starts with a 5.38 ERA. Manager Mike Shildt showed in Game 2 that he has no problem pulling his starter early, as Dylan Cease only went 3.2 innings and allowed no runs with three hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
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Chicago will start veteran pitcher Jameson Taillon. He started 23 for the Cubs during the regular season and had an 11-7 record with a 3.68 ERA. This will be the second playoff start of Taillon’s career. In his lone playoff start, he pitched 4.1 innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits. With it being Game 3, Chicago will likely have its whole bullpen ready to go if Taillon struggles on Thursday.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates and highlights from Padres vs. Cubs in Game 3 of the 2025 National League Wild Card Series.
STREAM: Watch Cubs vs. Padres Game 3 live in ESPN app
Cubs vs. Padres score
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Cubs vs. Padres live updates, highlights from NL Wild Card Game 3
All times ET. This section will be updated closer to first pitch.
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.
MORE MLB:
MLB playoff schedule 2025
Wild Card Series schedule
Tuesday, Sept. 30
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1: Tigers 2, Guardians 1 | 1:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Cubs 3, Padres 1 | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Red Sox 3, Yankees 1 | 6:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Dodgers 10, Reds 5 | 9:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Wednesday Oct. 1
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 2: Guardians 6, Tigers 1 | 1:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Padres 3, Cubs 0 | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Yankees 4, Red Sox 3 | 6:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Dodgers 8, Reds 4 | 9:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Thursday, Oct. 2
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 3: Guardians vs. Tigers | 3:00 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 3: Cubs vs. Padres | 5:00 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 3: Yankees vs. Red Sox | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Division Series schedule, scores
Saturday, Oct. 4
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLDS Game 1: Brewers vs. Cubs/Padres | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| NLDS Game 1: Phillies vs. Dodgers/Reds | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALDS Game 1: Mariners vs. Guardians/Tigers | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
| ALDS Game 1: Blue Jays vs. Yankees/Red Sox | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Sunday, Oct. 5
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALDS Game 2: Mariners vs. Guardians/Tigers | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
| ALDS Game 2: Blue Jays vs. Yankees/Red Sox | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Monday, Oct. 6
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLDS Game 2: Brewers vs. Cubs/Padres | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| NLDS Game 2: Phillies vs. Dodgers/Reds | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
Tuesday, Oct. 7
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALDS Game 3: Guardians/Tigers vs. Mariners | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
| ALDS Game 3: Yankees/Red Sox vs. Blue Jays | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Wednesday, Oct. 8
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLDS Game 3: Cubs/Padres vs. Brewers | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| NLDS Game 3: Dodgers/Reds vs. Phillies | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALDS Game 4: Guardians/Tigers vs. Mariners* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
| ALDS Game 4: Yankees/Red Sox vs. Blue Jays* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
*If necessary
Thursday, Oct. 9
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLDS Game 4: Cubs/Padres vs. Brewers* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| NLDS Game 4: Dodgers/Reds vs. Phillies* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
*If necessary
Friday, Oct. 10
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALDS Game 5: Mariners vs. Guardians/Tigers* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
| ALDS Game 5: Blue Jays vs. Yankees/Red Sox* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Saturday, Oct. 11
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLDS Game 5: Brewers vs. Cubs/Padres* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| NLDS Game 5: Phillies vs. Dodgers/Reds* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
*If necessary
League Championship Series schedule
Sunday, Oct. 12
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALCS Game 1: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Monday, Oct. 13
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 1: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALCS Game 2: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Tuesday, Oct. 14
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 2: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
Wednesday, Oct. 15
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALCS Game 3: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Thursday, Oct. 16
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 3: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALCS Game 4: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
Friday, Oct. 17
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 4: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALCS Game 5: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
*If necessary
Saturday, Oct. 18
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 5: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
*If necessary
Sunday, Oct. 19
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| ALCS Game 6: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
*If necessary
Monday, Oct. 20
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 6: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
| ALCS Game 7: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox/FS1, Fubo |
*If necessary
Tuesday, Oct. 21
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS Game 7: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | TBS, DirecTV |
*If necessary
World Series schedule 2025
Friday, Oct. 24
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
Saturday, Oct. 25
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 2: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
Monday, Oct. 27
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 3: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
Tuesday, Oct. 28
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 4: TBD vs. TBD | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
Wednesday, Oct. 29
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 5: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
*If necessary
Friday, Oct. 31
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 6: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
*If necessary
Saturday, Nov. 1
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| Game 7: TBD vs. TBD* | TBD | Fox, Fubo |
*If necessary
