MLB Wild Card live updates: Cubs vs. Padres scores, analysis as playoffs continue

Robert Suarez on with two down, one on in the eighth.

The Padres lead 3-0 and have 93.5% chance of winning Game 2.

That inning (see below) was a perfect illustration of Mason Miller having the best pure stuff in baseball. Yes, he’s No. 1. 

What is a hitter even supposed to do with this. Unhittable.

No joke. I don’t know how that trade will age — De Vries is a heck of a prospect — but this is why the Padres get Miller. To record big outs in high-leverage spots.

Miller throws 102 mph, but the Padres had him throwing more sliders than fastballs. Worked pretty well too. Struck out more than half the batters he faced after the trade.

Here comes Mason Miller.

Padres reliever Adrián Morejón pitched yesterday and is now at 33 pitches in Game 2. His regular-season high in pitches was 23. It might take him off the table for Game 3, though it doesn’t really matter until the Padres close this one down. 

Seven outs on 33 pitches for Adrian Morejon. Terrific outing. Sets the Padres up for Jeremiah Estrada, Mason Miller, Robert Suarez in 7-8-9. They won’t have to extend any of them too much before Game 3. (Though Morejon might not be available. We’ll see.)

San Diego, blessed with a tremendous bullpen, is nine outs away from forcing a decisive Game 3.

Morejon remains in. Staying true to the surname.

The Cubs have an offense fully capable of scoring three runs in four innings, but it’s a much taller order than usual with the Padres’ vaunted bullpen. Also keep in mind the Cubs have some of their power on the left-handed side of the plate and the wind is blowing in from right field.

Surprised the Cubs pitched to Machado there. First base open, two outs, lefty hitter on deck.

With two outs and a runner on second, Manny Machado turned the Padres’ slim 1-0 advantage into a more comfortable 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth. Here’s a look: 

That’s the 12th postseason home run of Machado’s career, and it pushes the Padres closer to forcing a decisive Game 3 on Thursday.

Machado in the prior half inning was momentarily shaken up after sliding into the Cubs’ dugout railing in pursuit of a foul ball. 

Michael Soroka warming up for the Cubs. Imanaga’s still in, and he’s done his job quite nicely.

They still lead 1-0 going into the fifth.

With two on and two out in the fourth, Mike Shildt pulls Dylan Cease and calls on Adrián Morejón. Cease struck out five and walked one. He’s yet to allow a run, but both runners belong to him. 

He was slow to get up after pursuing a foul ball and sliding into the Cubs’ dugout railing, but he appears to be walking it off and staying in the game. Was limping a bit. 

The Guardians didn’t take an at-bat with a runner in scoring position until the bottom of the eighth inning, but they were able to prevail by a 6-1 final thanks to a pitching staff that refused to bend and a timely, if late offensive onslaught. 

Guardians outfielder George Valera opened the game’s scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. The Tigers wouldn’t answer until the fourth. That’s when Detroit shortstop Javier Báez delivered a bases-loaded single that appeared to plate two runs to take the lead. “Appeared to” being key phrasing, because a replay challenge found that the second runner had not crossed the plate before Zach McKinstry was tagged out to end the frame. 

The two sides would swap zeroes, with the Tigers stranding 15 runners in total, until the bottom of the eighth. 

That’s when second baseman Brayan Rocchio, who lifted just five home runs all regular season, hit a go-ahead blast. The Guardians then received consecutive doubles from Steven Kwan and Daniel Schneeman to extend their lead to 3-1. Bo Naylor followed up with a three-run shot to give the Guardians an insurmountable 6-1 advantage.

The Tigers would load the bases in the ninth, but Dillon Dingler lined out to first base to end the threat. 

The two sides will meet on Thursday for a decisive Game 3. The winner will advance to the ALDS. 

Cade Smith has thrown 27 pitches and Brayan Rocchio just booted what should have been the inning-ending ground out. The bases are loaded. If nothing else, elevating Smith’s pitch count could help the Tigers in Game 3. He’s already pitching for the second straight day.

The Padres lead 1-0, but they’ve left four men on base and are 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position so far. The Cubs have gotten a combination of big pitches, good defense and some batted-ball luck with those runners on.

Padres got two runners on in the top of the fourth, but the Cubs held the line. It remains 1-0 San Diego heading into the bottom half. 

The Guardians have hit three home runs in a game for only the 14th time in 2025. The latest: Bo Naylor. His three-run shot off lefty Brant Hurter busts this game open and gives Cleveland a 6-1 lead in the eighth.

Since baseball expanded the postseason to 12 teams, only two teams have forced a Game 3 of the Wild Card Series after losing Game 1. The Mets did it in 2022 (vs. Padres) and the Brewers did it in 2024 (vs. Mets). Cleveland is poised to become the third.

Naylor, 25, hit 14 home runs with a .195/.282/.379 slash line during the regular season. He is of course Josh’s younger brother.

Cubs get a runner in scoring position, but Cease strands him. Padres still up 1-0 going into the fourth.

Rocchio, who homered only five times during the regular season, isn’t what anyone would consider to be an offensive powerhouse. But he delivered in a big way on Wednesday to give Cleveland a 2-1 lead. Take a look:

Steven Kwan and Daniel Schneeman then hit back-to-back doubles to make it 3-1 before Bo Naylor launched a three-run homer to give them a 6-1 advantage.

The Guardians are three out away from forcing a Game 3.

Adrián Morejón now getting warm for the Padres.

I know this technically applies to every pitcher, but Dylan Cease could legitimately throw a no-hitter in any given start, or walk six and give up five runs in four innings in any given start. Very wide range of outcomes on that guy. Super talented but no consistency. His free agency will be fascinating. Some team will bet a lot of money that they can “fix” him.

That overturned play from earlier continues to loom large

Cleveland has not had a single at-bat with a runner in scoring position today.