Padres pregame: Cubs finally start a righty, Mike Shildt talks bullpen availability

CHICAGO — The Padres’ sixth, seventh and eighth hitters must be licking their chops.

Of course, they don’t expect to see a whole lot of right-hander Jameson Taillon in a win-or-go home Game 3 at 2:08 p.m. at Wrigley Field (ESPN).

Why would they?

None of Ryan O’Hearn, Gavin Sheets nor Jake Cronenworth have faced a right-hander yet in the series. With left-handers at the ready in Drew Pomeranz, Taylor Rogers and Caleb Thielbar, even O’Hearn acknowledged Wednesday that the break against lefties would be temporary.

“Even if it’s (Taillon starting),” he said, “for how long?”

O’Hearn’s fourth-inning single off left-hander Shota Imanaga is the only hit from the Padres’ 6-8 hitters — all left-handed hitters — all series. O’Hearn also worked a second-inning walk off Imanaga during his four plate appearances. Cronenworth was 0-for-4 out of the eight-hole, while Sheets flied out in the second before he was lifted for pinch-hitter Jose Iglesias in the fourth.

Iglesias lined out to center and switch-hitter Bryce Johnson finished the game in left field while going 0-for-2.

But Sheets is back in the seven-hole on Thursday in the very same lineup used the first two games of the series.

Let’s play three. pic.twitter.com/sZ8OTfNMnI

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 2, 2025

“We have guys that understand their roles,” shortstop Xander Bogaerts said. “Gavin’s been one of our best hitters … and then he got taken out in a pinch-hit role. Iggy is probably one of the toughest guys for our team and had a spot for him to come in … and he put on a good swing. And just not always going to get the result you want, you know? So hopefully Sheets understands hopefully (Thursday) is his day.”

Bogaerts leads the Padres with three hits, including a double, and an .875 OPS through the first two games of the series. Two of his hits have been infield singles, which has not been great for the fracture that’s healing in his left foot.

“That ain’t helping,” Bogaerts said with a laugh. “I’ll take the singles, but some line drives.”

Those would allow him to jog into first base for a change, as opposed to rushing to beat out a throw as he did again Wednesday. Bogaerts noted, however, that it was his right foot that he tweaked while stepping on first base.

Catcher Freddy Fermin (.714 OPS) and first baseman Luis Arraez (.571 OPS) are the only other Padres with multiple hits so far in the series.

The big question today is who’s available out of the Padres bullpen after left-hander Adrián Morejón has thrown 3⅓ scoreless innings over back-to-back days and right-hander Mason Miller has struck out eight over 2⅔ scoreless innings across both games.

Both indicated they’d be available, as you’d expect in an elimination game.

“We’re going to take their temperature today,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “Both recovered well yesterday. But they’ve been throwing. They took down a chunk of the game yesterday really well. Obviously we want to be smart about making sure we use them appropriately, but also clearly going to win a baseball game today. They’ll play catch. They’ll be honest with us. We’ll talk to them.”

Shildt noted it’s an all hands on-deck day, which includes Game 1 starter Nick Pivetta skipping his bullpen side just in case. Michael King and Randy Vásquez are also length options that have not been used, while David Morgan and Bradgley Rodriguez are also waiting for their first postseason appearances.

On the Cubs’ side, second baseman Nico Hoerner (.804 OPS) leads the team with three hits, while outfielder Seiya Suzuki (1.143 OPS) and shortstop Dansby Swanson (.667 OPS) both have two hits. Both of Suzuki’s hits have gone for extra bases, including a game-tying homer on Tuesday.

Here is how the Cubs will line up for Game 3:

Game 3. pic.twitter.com/TqMas58sDV

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 2, 2025

Thursday’s pitching matchup

Padres RHP Yu Darvish (5-5, 5.38 ERA)

He’s allowed 14 homers through 72 innings since coming off the IL in July and has a 5.40 ERA in six starts since his last quality start on Aug. 22. Darvish last faced the Cubs last year, allowing four runs in eight innings across two starts. He allowed four runs in three innings at Petco Park and threw five shutout innings in a win at Wrigley Field, where the former Cub has a 3.89 ERA in 30 career starts.

While Darvish has been a different pitcher while contending with a balky elbow, he has extensive history with current Cubs:

Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (11-7, 3.68 ERA)

He had a 1.54 ERA in four starts since returning from a groin that had sidelined him for about two weeks. Taillon has a 2.40 ERA in five career starts against the Padres, including allowing two runs in 5⅓ innings in a no-decision at Petco Park in April.

Here is how Taillon has fared against current Padres: