San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) singles against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field April 5 in Chicago.

The San Diego Padres try to stave off elimination against the Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of their best-of-3 NL Wild Card Series Wednesday. First pitch from Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, is set for 3:08 p.m. ET (ABC). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Padres vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Cubs lead 1-0; won regular-season series 4-3

The Padres couldn't solve the Cubs' bullpen in Game 1 with a 3-1 defeat. They got LHP Matthew Boyd on the ropes in the fifth, but 4 Cubs relievers combined to throw 4 2/3 perfect innings. SS Xander Bogaerts had 2 of the team's 4 hits Tuesday. The Padres turn to their ace to avoid elimination.

RF Seiya Suzuki and C Carson Kelly hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to drive the offense in Game 1. The team actually struck out a whopping 13 times, but they did damage when they connected. Suzuki is on an absolute tear. He hit 5 homers in the last 4 games of the regular season and went yard again in Game 1 for his fifth straight game with a dinger. The Cubs are going with a bullpen game in Game 2.

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Padres at Cubs projected starters

RHP Dylan Cease vs. RHP Andrew Kittredge

Cease (8-12, 4.55 ERA) made 32 regular-season starts. He ended the 2025 season with a 1.33 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9 and 11.5 K/9 through 168 innings.

  • Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 8 K in a 3-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last Wednesday
  • Career vs. Cubs: 4-2, 2.47 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 11.6 K/9 in 8 career starts
  • Playoff career: 0-1, 12.91 ERA, 2.35 WHIP, 8 K's in 7 2/3 IP in 3 GS, 4 G

Kittredge (4-3, 3.40 ERA) will serve as the opener. He made 54 relief appearances and closed the regular season with a 0.98 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 10.9 K/9 through 53 innings with the Baltimore Orioles and Cubs

  • Last outing: No-decision, 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K in Game 1 Tuesday against Padres; threw 14 pitches in eighth inning
  • Career vs. Padres: 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 4 relief appearances spanning 4 IP
  • Postseason career: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, 4 K's in 5 1/3 IP

Padres at Cubs odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:09 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Padres -102 (bet $102 to win $100) | Cubs -118 (bet $118 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Padres -1.5 (+170) | Cubs +1.5 (-210)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Padres at Cubs picks and predictions

Prediction

Padres 3, Cubs 2

Moneyline

The PADRES (-102) are the easy call here. They're on the ropes and have their ace up against a bullpen game. And as mentioned, the Cubs struck out a lot Tuesday, but just managed to connect with more damage.

Run line/Against the spread

PASS. The ML is at a great price, and we'll stick with it. If you're looking for something, Suzuki Over 0.5 HR (+600) could be worth a look.

Over/Under

The wind is blowing in at 10 mph. I liked the UNDER 6.5 (-115) anyway. I'd go easy, though, because it is such a small number, and we've got a 'pen game on one side.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Ryan Dodson, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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