CHICAGO -- The ending? Familiar. Painfully familiar.

The 2025 Padres spent the winter, spring and summer determined to atone for last October’s bitter ending -- only for the same bitter ending to befall them again.

Another winner-take-all game on the road. Another disappointing showing from the San Diego offense. Another postseason exit far earlier than they ever anticipated.

The Padres are headed home after a 3-1 loss to the Cubs on Thursday in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field. After their Game 5 Division Series loss to the Dodgers a year ago, it’s the second consecutive postseason in which the Padres’ season has ended with disappointment in a winner-take-all game.

The Padres gave the ball to right-hander Yu Darvish for the finale, and Darvish mostly

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