For the first time since 2020, the Chicago Cubs are back in the playoffs. They will host the San Diego Padres in a Wild Card series beginning Tuesday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs (92-70) had lost six of their last seven until getting their house in order with a weekend, three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals to close out the regular season. The Padres (90-72) threatened to dethrone the Dodgers for much of the season in the National League West but wound up falling just short. San Diego closed the regular season strong winning seven of their last eight games.

Nick Pivetta (13-5, 2.87 ERA) will take the ball in the series opener for San Diego. The veteran made an impressive 31 starts this season but struggled in his final two starts allowing six runs over 10.1 innings...but t

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