San Diego Padres vs Chicago Cubs MLB Betting Prediction
PublishedOctober 2, 2025,            Posted By: Maria Uebelhor
Last updated:October 2, 2025 ,

MLB San Diego Padres vs Chicago Cubs Prediction 10/2

The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs are set for Game 3 of the NL Wild Card on Thursday, October 2, 2025. The game will take place at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL, with the Padres leading the series 1–1. Fans can catch the action on ESPN at 5:08 PM, with the weather forecast predicting a warm day and overcast clouds.

Padres vs. Cubs Betting Prediction

  • Money Line Prediction: Chicago Cubs -116. The Cubs have a strong home record of 50-31 and a better starting pitcher in Jameson Taillon, who has a solid ERA of 3.68.
  • Over/Under Prediction: Under 7.5 (-108). Both teams have shown low-scoring games in this series, with the last two games totaling 4 and 3 runs.

Team Trends

  • The San Diego Padres have a road record of 38-43 this season.
  • The Chicago Cubs have a home record of 50-31 this season.
  • In Game 2 of the NL Wild Card, the Padres won 3-0 against the Cubs.
  • In Game 1 of the NL Wild Card, the Cubs won 3-1 against the Padres.
  • The Cubs hit two home runs in their Game 1 victory over the Padres.

Padres vs Cubs Preview

The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs are gearing up for a decisive Game 3 in the NL Wild Card. This game will take place at the historic Wrigley Field. The series is tied at 1-1, making this game crucial for both teams. Fans will be tuning in on ESPN at 5:08 PM to see who will advance in the playoffs. The weather is expected to be warm with overcast clouds, adding an extra layer of challenge for the players.

On the mound for the Padres is Yu Darvish, who has a season ERA of 5.38. He will look to keep the Cubs’ hitters in check. Opposing him is Jameson Taillon for the Cubs, with an ERA of 3.68. Taillon aims to use his home-field advantage to help the Cubs move forward in the playoffs. Both pitchers will need to be on top of their game in this win-or-go-home scenario.

Chicago Cubs: Key Players and Stats

The Chicago Cubs have some strong hitters this season. Michael Busch leads the team with 34 home runs and a .261 batting average. Seiya Suzuki is not far behind with 32 home runs and a .245 batting average. Nico Hoerner stands out with a .297 batting average, which is the highest on the team. He also leads in runs scored with 89. Dansby Swanson has contributed with 24 home runs and 84 runs scored. On the mound, Jameson Taillon is the starting pitcher for the Cubs. He has a solid 3.68 ERA and a 11-7 win-loss record. The Cubs rank 9th in team ERA with a value of 3.81 this season.

San Diego Padres: A Look at Their Lineup and Pitching

The San Diego Padres have some notable hitters this season. Manny Machado leads the team with a .275 batting average and 27 home runs. He also has 91 runs scored, making him a key player for the Padres. Luis Arraez holds the highest batting average on the team at .292, along with 66 runs scored. Ryan O’Hearn has been solid with a .281 batting average and 17 home runs. Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth each have 11 home runs. They add depth to the lineup with their consistent performances. Jose Iglesias, with a .229 average, rounds out the lineup. Yu Darvish will be the starting pitcher for the Padres. He has an ERA of 5.38 and a win-loss record of 5-5. The Padres rank 3rd in team ERA at 3.64, showing their strength in pitching.

Final Betting Pick

The Cubs have a strong home record of 50-31, which supports the money line prediction of Chicago Cubs -116. Jameson Taillon is the starting pitcher, and he has an ERA of 3.68. This gives the Cubs an edge over the Padres, whose starter, Yu Darvish, has a higher ERA of 5.38.

The over/under prediction is set at under 7.5, based on recent low-scoring games. The last two games between these teams totaled 4 and 3 runs. Both teams have shown solid pitching, with the Cubs having the 3rd best ERA in the league during the regular season. This suggests another low-scoring game is likely.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change. **All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk. Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.