Padres Force Game 3, Host Watch Parties

The San Diego Padres opened their best-of-three NL Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field with Nick Pivetta named Game 1 starter, and their 26-man roster carries three catchers after Elias Díaz was sidelined by an oblique injury, with Freddy Fermin expected to handle most of the catching. San Diego shut out the Chicago Cubs 3-0 to force a winner‑take‑all Game 3. The team will host watch parties at Gallagher Square at Petco Park for Game 2 and a potential Game 3, with $5 admission benefiting the Padres Foundation and thousands expected to attend. Meanwhile, the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers held their first postseason practice as they await whether their NLDS opponent will be Chicago or San Diego, and MLB said the Brewers’ Oct. 4 NLDS opener will be scheduled at either 1:08 p.m. or 8:08 p.m. CT depending on the outcome of the Boston–New York wild-card series.