The San Diego Padres will host the Chicago Cubs in the 2026 NL Wild Card Series, reversing the home-field arrangement from their previous playoff matchup. The Padres finished the regular season 91-71, second in the NL West, while the Cubs went 89-73, second in the NL Central.
Multiple outlets describe the series as a rematch between the two teams, with Yahoo Sports noting that the shift in venue could prove significant. One report suggests the Padres are positioning themselves as a team built for October baseball, with aspirations of returning to the World Series for the first time in 28 years.
One additional detail emerged from coverage of the series: Clayton Kershaw, a Dodgers legend, will be part of the broadcast for at least one Padres-Cubs game, according to reporting on the playoff assignment.