The Padres rode a runaway 8-0 win in Game 1 into Wednesday’s Game 2 with a lineup that brought its own headline: Ethan Salas behind the plate, making history.
San Diego’s teenage catcher is now the youngest backstop ever to catch a postseason game, and he’ll do it with Nick Pivetta on the mound as the Padres try to finish off a sweep of the Cubs at Petco Park.
The order around Salas looks familiar at the top. Fernando Tatis Jr. is in right field, Dustin Harris starts in left, Manny Machado is at third, Ty France is at first, Jackson Merrill handles center, Xander Bogaerts is at short, and Jake Cronenworth is at second. Austin Hays is the designated hitter.
The one real wrinkle in the lineup is Hays getting the DH assignment over Sheets. Craig Stammen said that decision comes down to Hays’ numbers against Gausman. Sheets has just returned from the injured list, while Andujar has spent time in Triple-A, so Stammen also has some veteran depth available if the game turns into a high-leverage spot later.
Game 1 gave Stammen plenty to like. Michael King allowed only one hit and didn’t give up a hit until the sixth inning in another strong Wild Card outing. Tatis opened the scoring by launching the first pitch he saw from the Cubs over the fence, Machado followed with a homer in the same inning, and Joe Musgrove’s first appearance in two seasons added another jolt when he closed out the ninth.
The offense was rolling all night. Tatis, Machado, Bogaerts, France and Merrill all finished with two hits, and San Diego piled up 13 as a team. Salas now gets his turn to help try to keep that momentum going.
In Other News...
Padres Fans Have Every Reason To Hate This Wild Card Broadcast Choice
As the Padres get ready for their wild-card series against the Cubs, NBC Sports is adding a familiar face to the broadcast mix for Game 1. Clayton Kershaw will be part of the networks Inside the Pitch crew, a choice that instantly stands out to anyone who followed his long run with the Dodgers and the years of tension that came with it from San Diegos side.
NBC Sports has said the assignment came down to scheduling and Kershaws recent work in analyst roles, not any direct tie to either team in the series. Still, for Padres fans, seeing a recently retired Dodger on the microphone for the opener is the kind of detail that can color the broadcast before the first pitch is even thrown, especially with a rivalry that has hardly faded just because Kershaws playing days are over. [Read more 🡒]
Former Padres Roster Piece Quietly Closed The Book On His Career
Tyler Wade has quietly closed the book on a nine-year major league career, announcing his retirement after a run that took him from the Yankees to the Angels, Athletics and eventually the Padres. For San Diego, he was one of those versatile roster pieces whose value often lived in the margins, the kind of player a team leans on for depth, defense and lineup flexibility as the season wears on.
Wades final MLB appearance came in 2025, and he tried to keep the career going with a minor league deal from the Rangers in 2026. But after 16 games in Triple-A, he was released and never made it back to the majors, bringing an understated end to a path that never drew much attention but still left him a place in the Padres recent roster history. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Just Sent A Serious Wild Card Message
The Padres opened the Wild Card series in emphatic fashion, rolling past the Cubs 8-0 and setting the tone for a matchup they know could hinge on every inning. Michael King delivered the kind of start San Diego needed, working seven strong frames and coming within a hit of a no-hitter, while Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado gave the offense an immediate jolt with early home runs.
Joe Musgrove handled the ninth to finish off the shutout, and the all-around performance left San Diego looking every bit like a team that expects to keep playing deep into October. Game 1 was not just a win, but a statement about how sharp the Padres can look when their rotation and power bats show up together. [Read more 🡒]