Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres Prediction, 9/30/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres

Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Location: Petco Park in San Diego, CA

TV: Peacock

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+103) San Diego (-124)

The Chicago Cubs (89-73) are headed to Petco Park on Wednesday where they will attempt to defeat the San Diego Padres (91-71) in Game 2 of their NL Wild Card series. The line on this matchup has Chicago at +103 while San Diego is coming in at -124. The over/under is 7.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Kevin Gausman and Nick Pivetta.

Chicago is slugging .428 and have struck out 1,345 times, while drawing a walk on 674 occasions. They have 804 runs batted in and 1,398 base knocks on the season, while their average at the plate sits at .251. The Cubs have accumulated 274 doubles as a unit and have hit 220 baseballs out of the stadium. They have earned 850 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .339. As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are compiling 5.3 runs per outing, which has them at 1st in MLB.

Get all of our MLB Parlay Picks

The Cubs hold a team earned run average of 4.12 this season (14th in MLB), and the staff has rung up 1,260 batters. Cubs pitchers have allowed 231 home runs and also 703 total runs (12th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 500 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 4.60 as a unit on the campaign. Chicago has surrendered 1,323 hits (8.2 per 9 innings) and also 662 earned runs. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.52 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.26.

Cubs pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on base 166 times in addition to having 161 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen are sitting with 57 holds for the year (30th in MLB). The Cubs relief pitchers have recorded a save rate of 56.3% and stepped onto the hill in 128 save situations. They have earned 36 saves for the year and have blown 28 of 64 chances to get a save. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 234 base runners for the year with 33.8% of those players ended up crossing the plate. The Cubs have sent 518 relief pitchers to the mound this season.

The Cubs have turned 71.9% of balls hit into play into outs in their 13,023 innings, ranking them 3rd in pro baseball. The Chicago Cubs have 4,341 putouts so far this season, in addition to 1,547 assists and 61 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .990 which ranks 1st in the majors, and they have turned 124 double plays.

Gausman (116-115 career win-loss mark) holds a FIP of 3.78 while he has gone up against 8,196 hitters during his time in the major leagues. He has surrendered 1,886 base hits (8.7 hits per 9 innings) and has 546 walks. His ERA is 3.84 (837 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.240. Gausman has thrown 1,961 frames and is sitting with 2,011 K's in his pro baseball career.

The Padres have a slugging percentage of .398 and they score 4.46 runs per outing (16th in baseball). They have recorded 234 doubles, while getting a free base 554 times and scoring 722 runs. San Diego has recorded 183 long balls on the campaign to go along with 696 RBIs. They have been called out on strikes on 1,310 occasions (22nd in the league) and are sitting with 1,314 base knocks. The San Diego Padres have compiled an on-base percentage of .319 as well as a team batting average of .244 so far this year.

The Padres have a team WHIP of 1.294 in addition to having a FIP of 4.20 as a unit for the year. They are currently ranked 13th in the league as a staff in total hits conceded with 1,304. The San Diego pitching staff have allowed 681 runs this season while having a team ERA of 3.99 (636 earned runs surrendered). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.20 (1,315 strikeouts vs 554 walks). They have given up 180 dingers and they concede 4.27 runs per 9 innings (9th in baseball).

Sitting with 179 save situations, the Padres have tallied 106 holds and 20 blown saves. San Diego has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the game in 68 save opportunities and they have tallied 48 saves. San Diego bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 31.0% out of 248 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have taken the field 185 times in high leverage situations and also on 153 occasions with runners on base. They rank 8th in the league with a save percentage of 70.6%, and they have sent 550 relievers to the hill on the season.

The San Diego Padres have gotten 131 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .989 (2nd in professional baseball). The Padres have accrued 1,431 assists, 64 errors and have a tally of 4,309 putouts over the course of the season. Out of their 12,927 innings played, the Padres have earned a efficiency on defense of 70.6% (11th in baseball).

In his MLB career, Pivetta has given up 1,134 hits while totaling 1,371 K's in 1,245 innings pitched. He has allowed 613 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.260 and a FIP of 4.4. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.15 and he has faced 5,247 batters so far in his MLB career. Pivetta (72-78 win-loss mark in his career) is the owner of a 4.43 ERA and has conceded 8.2 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take San Diego (-124) and under 7.5 runs

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.