How to Watch San Diego Padres vs. Chicago Cubs: MLB Wild Card Round on Peacock
Peacock's best-of-three Wild Card series begins Tuesday, September 29.
Content availability may vary over time.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 MLB Wild Card series between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres is a best-of-three matchup on Peacock, with Game 1 on September 29, Game 2 on September 30, and Game 3 on October 1, if necessary.
- The playoff series features stars like Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs and Manny Machado of the Padres, with every game carrying high stakes.
- All games will be played at Petco Park in San Diego after the Padres secured the top National League Wild Card seed with a 91-71 record, while the Cubs entered as the #5 seed at 89-73.
The 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs are here — and the Wild Card Round on NBC and Peacock is featuring some of the most can't-miss matchups of the year, including a National League showdown between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres.
The Cubs are looking to collect their fourth World Series — and their first since 2016 — on the back of an MVP-caliber season by Pete Crow-Armstrong, but before Chicago can even think about doing that, they've got a date with destiny in the form of Manny Machado and the Padres, who are still looking for their first World Series win in the franchise's history.
The best-of-three Wild Card series means there's hardly any room for error on either side of the field, which makes every inning as must-watch as it gets. Keep reading for all the details on how to watch the Cubs-Padres Wild Card series on Peacock, below.
How do I watch the Cubs vs. Padres Wild Card Series
This postseason, the best way to catch the San Diego Padres hosting the Chicago Cubs in the MLB Wild Card Round is by logging on to Peacock!
RELATED: Every MLB Game on Peacock This Week: Full Wild Card Playoff Schedule
In addition to that exciting National League showdown, Peacock and NBC are also home to the three other MLB playoff series going on this week, including the Atlanta Braves hosting the Philadelphia Phillies, the Houston Astros playing the Chicago White Sox, and one of the all-time great baseball rivalries being reignited once again with the New York Yankees hosting their division rivals, the Boston Red Sox.
Cubs vs. Padres Wild Card Round schedule
Here is the schedule for the Cubs vs. Padres MLB Wild Card best-of-three series on Peacock:
- Tuesday, September 29 at 10 p.m. ET: Game 1
- Wednesday, September 30 at 10 p.m. ET: Game 2
- Thursday, October 1 at 10 p.m. ET: Game 3 (if necessary)
Should it come down to a series-clinching Game 3, schedule information will be determined on September 30.
Where are the Cubs-Padres Wild Card games being played?
All games in the series — even a potential Game 3 — will be played in San Diego Padres' home stadium, Petco Park.
The Padres earned home-field advantage in the Wild Card Round by clinching the #4 seed — the top Wild Card spot — in the 2026 playoffs, thanks to their stellar 91-71 record in the regular season.
The Chicago Cubs captured the #5 seed with an 89-73 record.
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Who are the announcers for Cubs vs. Padres?
Play-by-play for the Cubs-Padres series will be handled by NBC Sports' Dave Flemming, with support by Jim Deshaies, Mark Grant, and Clayton Kershaw (as an "Inside the Pitch" analyst). John Fanta will serve as an on-field reporter during the series.
However, coverage of the Wild Card Round will begin in the afternoon before each game. Ahmed Fareed will host the pregame show on Peacock at 1:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 29 and Wednesday, September 30, and fans can tune in to a postgame show following the conclusion of Cubs-Padres from NBC Sports studios in Stamford, Connecticut, featuring Baseball Hall of Famer CC Sabathia and former All-Star first baseman Eric Hosmer.
