CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are back in the MLB playoffs after a four-year absence and will face the San Diego Padres in a National League Wild Card Series this week at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs ended the season with a 92-70 record, finishing behind the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers and earning the top wild-card slot ahead of their opponent San Diego, which went 90-72. The Padres finished runner-up to the Dodgers in the NL West and is entering their fourth playoffs in the past six years.
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Here’s how to watch and stream the Cubs vs. Padres NLWC Game 1 on Tuesday.
Stream Cubs playoff games on Fubo (free trial available)
What time is the Cubs vs Padres game?
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Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago
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Game 1: 2:08 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30
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Game 2: 2:08 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1
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Game 3: 2:08 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2 (time subject to change)
What channel is the Cubs game?
ABC is broadcasting the Cubs’ game on Sept. 30. Game 2 and Game 3, if needed, are on ESPN.
Is the Cubs game on TV? Where to stream Cubs game
Fans can watch all of the Cubs-Padres series on ABC, ESPN and via the ESPN streaming app. You can stream on Fubo, which offers a free trial. Should the Cubs make it to the division round or NLCS, the games shift to TBS. The World Series is broadcast on Fox.
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Who are the ESPN announcers for the Cubs-Padres?
Kevin Brown, Jessica Mendoza and Ben McDonald will be on the call for the series, along with Jesse Rogers.
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2025 MLB Wild Card schedule
The Chicago Cubs begin the wild-card playoffs Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Here is the full Cubs-Padres wild-card series schedule, airing on ABC and ESPN.
Tuesday, Sept. 30
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NLWC, Game 1: Padres at Cubs, 2:08 p.m., ABC
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ALWC, Game 1: Tigers at Guardians, 12:08 p.m., ESPN
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ALWC, Game 1: Red Sox at Yankees, 5:08 p.m., ESPN
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NLWC, Game 1: Reds at Dodgers, 8:08 p.m., ESPN
Wednesday, Oct. 1
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NLWC, Game 2: Padres at Cubs, 2:08 p.m., ABC
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ALWC, Game 2: Tigers at Guardians, 12:08 p.m., ESPN
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ALWC, Game 2: Red Sox at Yankees, 5:08 p.m., ESPN
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NLWC, Game 2: Reds at Dodgers, 8:08 p.m., ESPN
Thursday, Oct. 2
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NLWC, Game 3 (if necessary): Padres at Cubs, 2:08 p.m., ABC
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ALWC, Game 3 (if necessary): Tigers at Guardians, 12:08 p.m., ESPN
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ALWC, Game 3 (if necessary): Red Sox at Yankees, 5:08 p.m., ESPN
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NLWC, Game 3 (if necessary): Reds at Dodgers, 8:08 p.m., ESPN
2025 ALDS and NLDS schedule
Best-of-five series
Saturday Oct. 4
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NLDS Game 1 (Padres/Cubs at Brewers): TBS
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NLDS Game 1 (Reds/Dodgers at Phillies): TBS
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ALDS Game 1 (Red Sox/Yankees at Blue Jays): Fox/FS1
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ALDS Game 1 (Tigers/Guardians at Mariners): Fox/FS1
Sunday, Oct. 5
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ALDS Game 2 (Red Sox/Yankees at Blue Jays): Fox/FS1
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ALDS Game 2 (Tigers/Guardians at Mariners): Fox/FS1
Monday, Oct. 6
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NLDS Game 2 (Padres/Cubs at Brewers): TBS
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NLDS Game 2 (Reds/Dodgers at Phillies): TBS
Tuesday, Oct. 7
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ALDS Game 3 (Blue Jays at Red Sox/Yankees): Fox/FS1
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ALDS Game 3 (Mariners at Tigers/Guardians): Fox/FS1
Wednesday, Oct. 8
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*ALDS Game 4 (Blue Jays at Red Sox/Yankees): Fox/FS1
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*ALDS Game 4 (Mariners at Tigers/Guardians): Fox/FS1
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NLDS Game 3 (Brewers at Padres/Cubs): TBS
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NLDS Game 3 (Phillies at Reds/Dodgers): TBS
*If necessary
Thursday, Oct. 9
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*NLDS Game 4 (Brewers at Padres/Cubs): TBS
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*NLDS Game 4 (Phillies at Reds/Dodgers): TBS
*If necessary
Friday, Oct. 10
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*ALDS Game 5 (Red Sox/Yankees at Blue Jays): Fox/FS1
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*ALDS Game 5 (Tigers/Guardians at Mariners): Fox/FS1
Saturday, Oct. 11
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*NLDS Game 5 (Padres/Cubs at Brewers): TBS
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*NLDS Game 5 (Reds/Dodgers at Phillies): TBS
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*If necessary
ALCS schedule 2025
Best-of-seven series hosted by the better seed.
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Game 1, Sunday, Oct. 12: AL low at AL high, Fox/FS1
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Game 2, Monday, Oct. 13: AL low at AL high, Fox/FS1
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Game 3, Wednesday, Oct. 15: AL high at AL low, Fox/FS1
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Game 4, Thursday, Oct. 16: AL high at AL low, Fox/FS1
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*Game 5, Friday, Oct. 17: AL high at AL low, Fox/FS1
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*Game 6, Sunday, Oct. 19: AL low at AL high: Fox/FS1
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*Game 7, Monday, Oct. 20: AL low at AL high: Fox/FS1
*If necessary
NLCS schedule 2025
Best-of-seven series hosted by the better seed.
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Game 1, Monday, Oct. 13: NL low at NL high, TBS
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Game 2, Tuesday, Oct. 14: NL low at NL high, TBS
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Game 3, Thursday, Oct. 16: NL high at NL low, TBS
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Game 4, Friday, Oct. 17: NL high at NL low, TBS
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*Game 5, Saturday, Oct. 18 NL high at NL low, TBS
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*Game 6, Monday, Oct. 20: NL low at NL high, TBS
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*Game 7, Tuesday, Oct. 21: NL low at NL high, TBS
*If necessary
When does the World Series begin?
The best-of-seven World Series begins on Friday, Oct. 24 at the home of the team with the better record.
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Game 1, Friday, Oct. 24, Fox
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Game 2, Saturday, Oct. 25, Fox
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Game 3, Monday, Oct. 27, Fox
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Game 4, Tuesday, Oct. 28, Fox
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*Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 29, Fox
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*Game 6, Friday, Oct. 31, Fox
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*Game 7, Saturday, Nov. 1, Fox
*If necessary
CONTRIBUTING: Akron Beacon Journal, Detroit Free Press and USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: What time is the Cubs game today: How to watch NL wild card playoffs