Red-hot Padres keep rolling, send the Cubs packing in wild-card sweep

The San Diego Padres swept the Chicago Cubs in their National League Wild Card Series following a 4-1 victory on Wednesday at Petco Park. Xander Bogaerts drove in a run and scored, while Gavin Sheets hit a pinch-hit home run to help San Diego advance. The Padres move on to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series after extending an MLB-best 43-18 run since July 24.

Chicago's offense struggled throughout the two-game series, managing just one run and eight hits in total. Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong went hitless over both contests. Despite entering the postseason with a payroll exceeding the $244 million luxury-tax threshold, Chicago exits the playoffs early as San Diego heads to Milwaukee with a fully rested pitching staff.