Padres unveil familiar Game 3 lineup vs. Cubs in Wild Card elimination game

For a third straight game in the 2025 MLB playoffs, Padres manager Mike Shildt is running out the same lineup. Facing the Chicago Cubs on the road for Game 3 of the NL Wild Card round, all faith will once again be put into this starting order.

This lineup was a disaster in Game 1, but they acclimated to the postseason environment in Game 2 with a win to even the series. The one 'controversial' sequence in their lineup is hitters 6-8, who all bat left-handed. In two games, Ryan O'Hearn, Gavin Sheets, and Jake Cronenworth are hitting a combined 1-for-17. O'Hearn singled and walked in Game 2.

The top of the lineup came through on Wednesday after putting up a forgettable combined performance in Game 1. Fernando Tatis Jr. scored twice in Game 2, while Luis Arraez flicked two hits, and Manny Machado smoked a home run, driving in two of the game's three runs.

On the mound for San Diego will be Yu Darvish, a former Cub. Darvish spent three years with Chicago before coming over to the Padres. The 39-year-old right-hander was exceptional in the postseason last year with the Friars. In two starts in the NLDS against the Dodgers, he registered a 1.98 ERA across 13.2 innings, striking out seven LA batters.

For his career in the playoffs, Darvish owns a 5-7 record with a 3.77 ERA in 13 starts. He will oppose Jameson Taillon, who has not pitched in the playoffs since he was with the Yankees in 2022. He made one start against San Diego in the regular season, and racked up four strikeouts in 5.1 innings with two runs allowed.

Darvish did not pitch against the Cubs this season, but is 3-2 against them all-time with a 2.36 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.

First pitch for Game 3 is scheduled for 2:08 PT. If the Padres walk away as victors on Thursday, they will take on the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.

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