Playoff action continues as Cubs meet Padres in Game 2 of NL Wild Card Series

CHICAGO — MLB playoff action continues Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field, as the Cubs look to sweep the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of their NL Wild Card Series.

The Cubs put the Padres on the brink of elimination in the best-of-3 series with a 3-1 win in Game 1

on Tuesday afternoon.

With another win Wednesday, the Cubs would advance to the NLDS for the first time since 2017. They’d play the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers, who had the best record in baseball during the regular season and earned a bye through the Wild Card round by clinching the top seed in the NL field.

If the Padres win Wednesday, Game 3 will be Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field, with the winner advancing to face the Brewers.

Wednesday’s Game 2 matchup marks the eighth time the Cubs and Padres have met this season. They split six regular-season meetings, with the Cubs taking the first playoff game.

Game 2 lineup

The Cubs’ Game 2 lineup is as follows. Kyle Tucker, who’s been battling a calf injury, is hitting cleanup and DH’ing.

• 1B — Michael Busch
• 2B — Nico Hoerner
• LF — Ian Happ
• DH — Kyle Tucker
• RF — Seiya Suzuki
• C — Carson Kelly
• CF — Pete Crow-Armstrong
• SS — Dansby Swason
• 3B — Matt Shaw

First pitch is scheduled for 2:08 p.m.

Game 1

On Tuesday, in their MLB postseason debuts, Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back homers, the franchise’s first set of back-to-back homers in the playoffs since Miguel Montero and Dexter Fowler went deep on Oct. 15, 2016, against the Dodgers.

Padres starter Nick Pivetta struck out nine in five solid innings, but San Diego’s lineup was shut down by Cubs starter Matthew Boyd and four relievers. Chicago’s bullpen worked 4 2/3 perfect innings.

Cubs fans who made the pilgrimage to Wrigleyville on Tuesday described the atmosphere as electric.

WGN’s Mike Lowe made the trip himself and spoke to fans about the excitement of October baseball returning to Chicago.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.