Padres vs Cubs Wild Card series schedule revealed for 2025 MLB Playoffs

MLB revealed the Padres’ Wild Card schedule
Arizona Diamondbacks v San Diego Padres
Arizona Diamondbacks v San Diego Padres | Sean M. Haffey/GettyImages

The postseason stage is finally set, and the San Diego Padres are back in the spotlight. After enduring what was truly a rollercoaster of a regular season, the Padres are heading to Wrigley Field for a date with the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card round. For a franchise that has turned October baseball into a regular part of life in recent years, this matchup represents both a test of resilience and an opportunity to make a statement against a Cubs team that has been one of the league’s biggest surprises in 2025.

This isn’t just another trip to the postseason — it’s a chance for San Diego to rewrite the narrative of their year. The Padres have shown flashes of dominance, but they’ve also endured stretches where nothing seemed to click. Yet when the dust settled, they secured their place in the playoff picture, and now the only thing that matters is how they perform in October. 

Padres’ Wild Card series schedule with Cubs set for October showdown

Fans won’t have to wait long to see how the series unfolds. Major League Baseball released the full Wild Card schedule, slotting Padres-Cubs as the midday showcase on back-to-back afternoons.

Game 1 of the Padres-Cubs series is slated for Tuesday at 12:08 p.m. PT, with Game 2 scheduled for the same time on Wednesday. Both contests will serve as the second game in MLB’s daily Wild Card broadcast lineup, following the 10:08 a.m. PT start time reserved for one of the American League matchups. 

The Padres enter the 2025 MLB Postseason as the No. 5 seed in the National League. For San Diego, the task is clear: survive Wrigley and keep the journey alive. The Cubs have turned their home park into a fortress this season, feeding off their fans and a rejuvenated roster that will make sure the Padres come correct if they want to make it to the next round. 

October has always been about momentum as much as talent, and San Diego has a chance to prove it belongs among the NL’s best once again. Padres baseball is headed back to October’s biggest stage, and it all begins with two early afternoon tilts in the Windy City.

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