The Chicago Cubs had home advantage against the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card last season and capitalized on the matchup, their first playoff series since 2017. By winning, the Padres have the luxury of a backup this year and hope to end the Cubs’ campaign on Wednesday.
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San Diego looks to advance to the NL Division Series when it takes on Chicago at 10 pm ET in Game 2 of their Wild Card showdown at Petco Park. After stranding the tying run to second base in the ninth inning of a 3-1 loss in the deciding game at Wrigley Field in the last run, the Padres posted a dominant 8-0 victory in Tuesday’s opener and can make their third trip to the NLDS in five years with a win on Wednesday.
Michael King held the Cubs to one hit over seven innings and Fernando Tatis Jr. he set the tone on the first pitch of the game by Chicago’s Matthew Boyd as San Diego pounded out 13 hits. Manny Machado also went deep in the first inning, and Xander Bogaerts hit a solo shot in the fourth for the Padres, who are 18-3 since Sept. 6.
San Diego has hit eight runs in consecutive contests, and eclipsed the total (five) from last year against Chicago with Tuesday’s performance. The Padres are trying to end this streak with right-hander Nick Pivetta, who will make his fifth start as he returns from a nearly five-month absence with an elbow injury. The 33-year-old allowed a total of three runs in 18 2/3 innings in his four outings with a strikeout.
The Cubs are turning to Kevin Gausman as they hope to force a Game 3. The 35-year-old righty, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade deadline in early August, has allowed fewer than three runs in three of his last four starts, but has walked away with one win in that stretch.
The American League Wild Card Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox continues Wednesday evening at 8 pm ET with Game 2 at Yankee Stadium. New York, which eliminated Boston in its three games in last year’s Wild-Card Showdown, drew first blood this season with a 9-0 triumph. Ben Rice went 4-for-5 with two homers — adding a big hit and six RBI. Meanwhile, AL Cy Young Award favorite Cam Schlittler allowed 10 hits and two hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Boston looks to record more than three hits with left-hander Max Fried, who led the Red Sox to one run and six hits over 11 2/3 plate appearances in two starts this year. The AL leader in wins with a career-high 18, former Yankee Sonny Gray, is trying to keep Boston’s season alive. The 36-year-old allowed three innings in two innings against New York 2026, went 13 2/3 and picked up a win in his exit at Yankee Stadium.
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There are three games on Wednesday’s NHL schedule, including the Battle of the Keystone State between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers to host the 2026-27 season opener for both sides at Xfinity Arena at Mobile 7:30 p.m. ET. The Metropolitan Division rivals met in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the Flyers knocked off the Penguins in six games. Pittsburgh earned six of a possible eight points against Philadelphia in the 2025-26 campaign, recording two victories while losing twice in the shootout.
The reigning Presidents Trophy winners Colorado Avalanche also kicked off their campaign when they host the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 pm ET at the Ball Arena in Denver. The Avalanche and Kings also square off in the opening round of last season, sweeping Colorado in the series. Los Angeles was unable to defeat the Avs in 2025-26, as it also lost all three regular season meetings.
The Padres are -144 Money line betting Favorites against the Cubs in the latest MLB betting odds, while the Yankees are -136 sports betting favorites versus the Red Sox. The Flyers are -142 favorites over the Penguins at sports betting appsand Avalanche -193 to win huge against the Kings.
Below is a snapshot of the watch and pledge on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Always in the East
MLB best bets, where they observe
Red Sox at Yankees
Time: 8 p.m Location: New York City | TV: NBC | Stream: Fubo (Try it for free)
SportsLine picks up — Model: Over 6.5 (-122) | an expert: Yankees ML (-134, Micha Roberts)
During the regular season, these American East rivals have played seven games at Yankee Stadium this year and have combined to run at least seven in five of them. The Yankees eclipsed that number by themselves in Game 1, making it three straight home games against the Red Sox in which they scored nine or more runs. Even though Boston has produced a total of three runs in these games, SportsLine’s projection model does not predict a shortage of runs in Game 2 as it has hit in well over 63% of its simulations. New York left-hander Max Fried allowed two innings in two regular-season innings in 11 2/3 innings in Boston and fewer than two in seven straight games before his last season with the Tampa Bay Rays. SportsLine expert Micah Roberts wants the fry to go up with another strong performance and the Yankees to wrap up the series with a victory.
Cubs at the Padres
Time: 10 p.m Location: San Diego | TV: Peacock | Stream: Fubo (Try it for free)
SportsLine picks up — Model: Plus 7.5 (+101) | an expert: Padres ML (-133, Adam Thompson)
Despite being shut out in the opening series, the Cubs led the major leagues in the regular season with 850 runs. The Padres are on fire, scoring at least eight runs in three consecutive contests. Chicago and San Diego combined for eight or more runs in six of the seven meetings in 2026, all four at Petco Park. The SportsLine Projection model believes the trend is in Game 2, as its simulations have it up nearly 57% of the time. Since Sept. 6, the Padres have won 32 of their 21 games. SportsLine expert Adam Thompson (48-23, +1944 in his last 71 MLB reads) has them back after another win on Wednesday and advancing to the NL Division Series.
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NHL best bets where to watch
Penguins in flight
Time: 7:30 p.m Location: Philadelphia | TV: TNT | Stream: Fubo (Try it for free)
SportsLine picks up — Model: Penguins ML (+120) | an expert: under 6.5 (-135, xiii Severance) ;
The Penguins won two of the four meetings between the teams last season, with one victory coming in Philadelphia. Pittsburgh could have had three wins, but it blew the lead in the third period of a 4-3 loss in the final matchup. The Penguins will be looking for revenge after losing their first series against the Flyers in the final hour, and the SportsLine Model projection sees them getting it as Pittsburgh announces a victory on Wednesday in 62% of its simulations. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh combined for less than seven goals in three of their four meetings in 2025-26. SportsLine expert Matt Severance wants them to finish below that total by opening 2026-27.
Kings at Avalanche
Time: 10:30 p.m Location: Denver | TV: TNT | Stream: Fubo (Try it for free)
SportsLine pick — an expert: Over 5.5 (-130, Todd Fuhrman)
The Avalanche and Kings faced each other three times in the 2025-26 regular season, and at least six total goals were scored in the two meetings. The club also reached the goal of six in the last two contests in the first round of the playoff series of seven, which was drawn by Colorado. Los Angeles was just 29th in the NHL in scoring last campaign with 220 tallies, but the Avalanche led the league with 298 and Nathan MacKinnon had a career-high 53 times to capture the Maurice Richards Trophy. SportsLine expert Todd Fuhrman doesn’t think the teams will have much of a problem finding the back of the net Wednesday and sees them combining for more than five goals.
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