Story perspectives

Padres sweep Cubs, advance to NLDS behind Salas

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 11:25 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Padres Sweep Cubs

The San Diego Padres swept the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card series, moving to the NLDS.
Ethan Salas, 20, became the youngest postseason catcher in MLB history.
The Padres' bullpen allowed no runs and four hits over 7.2 innings in the two games.
Milwaukee Brewers, MLB’s best 103-59 team, host Game 1 on Oct 3 at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Summary

Counsell Defends Decision

Cubs manager Craig Counsell defended leaving Shota Imanaga on the mound in the fifth inning despite Manny Machado’s threat.
Counsell said he considered walking Machado but pitched, even though right-hander Mike Soroka was ready in the bullpen.
Game 3 will have former Cub Yu Darvish start for San Diego and Jameson Taillon open for Chicago.
Joe Musgrove returned to MLB on Oct 2 2024, entering the ninth inning and striking out the batter.

History

Machado Signs Historic Deal

Manny Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million contract in February 2019, the largest free-agent deal in American sports history.
He was the 2010 third-overall draft pick, earned four All-Star selections and won two Gold Glove Awards with Baltimore.
After moving to the Dodgers, Machado hit 13 homers and 42 RBIs in 66 games, aiding a World Series run.
Since 2019, he has become a Padres locker-room leader, mentoring young star Fernando Tatis Jr.

History

Historical Context

Alex Rodriguez’s 2000 free-agent deal with the Texas Rangers—a ten-year, $252 million contract that eclipsed the previous record by $63 million— sparked an era of blockbuster MLB salaries. Teams such as the New York Yankees responded by increasing spending on marquee players, a pattern that now influences roster construction for clubs like the San Diego Padres.

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Padres Sweep Cubs

The San Diego Padres swept the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card series, moving to the NLDS.
Ethan Salas, 20, became the youngest postseason catcher in MLB history.
The Padres' bullpen allowed no runs and four hits over 7.2 innings in the two games.
Milwaukee Brewers, MLB’s best 103-59 team, host Game 1 on Oct 3 at 7:30 p.m. CT.

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