Xander Bogaerts’ late-innings strikeout on a pitch he believed was outside the zone underscored why MLB is moving to an automated ball-strike system next season. The Padres fell 3-1 to the Cubs in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card, and the sequence amplified the stakes of a rule change aimed at reducing costly miscalls in decisive moments.

Jackson Merrill sparked San Diego’s late rally with a homer off Brad Keller, but a bases-loaded opportunity never crystallized as Chicago closed out the win. San Diego finished with 90 wins but couldn’t advance, leaving the ABS debate to the forefront as Milwaukee awaits in the next round and fantasy managers weigh how the new system could reshape late-inning outcomes.

Cubs bullpen dominance anchors a 3-1 Game 1 triumph in the NL wild-card, with Brad Keller’s late save and Daniel Palencia’s five-out surge reshaping the game’s momentum. Palencia silenced the Padres’ top order, while Keller closed out Bogaerts to seal the win. Chicago’s relief corps delivered 4 2/3 perfect innings, setting the tone for a momentum swing into Game 2.

Counsell praised the relievers’ resilience and the unit’s cohesion, highlighting matched-up outs and confidence in the late innings. The result gives the Cubs a crucial edge as they head to San Diego for the next chapter of the series, with the bullpen as the story of the night.

All-hands bullpen execution powers the Cubs to a 3-1 win in Game 1 of the NL wild-card series, with Craig Counsell tearing down traditional roles and leaning on a flexible, ego-free relief corps. Daniel Palencia returns from an IL stint to log crucial outs, while Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Kittredge, and Brad Keller bridge the later innings. Seiya Suzuki supplied a spark with a fifth-inning homer, and the Cubs closed it out with Keller sealing the deal as the crowd roared.

The message is clear: in October, trust and versatility beat static roles. The Padres’ big guns were stifled by a bullpen willing to adapt on the fly, proving that the next man up can be the difference-maker when the stakes are highest.

Chicago's bullpen has evolved from a postseason liability into a true weapon, as the Cubs opened the NL Wild Card Series with a 3-1 win over the Padres. Daniel Palencia returned from a shoulder injury to throw five outs in a key middle-inning sequence, setting the tone for a relief corps that retired all 14 Padres hitters. Pomeranz, Kittredge and Keller closed, while Colin Rea gives Chicago a multi-inning option in October. Counsell’s depth, plus Civale’s shift to relief, reshapes late-game plans and fantasy upside for the Cubs.

Moises Ballesteros tied a historic Cubs milestone with his first major-league home run, a line-drive shot that Rizzo literally snagged back for luck at Wrigley as the ceremony honored the beloved ex-Cub. Chicago built a 3-0 edge behind Rea, but Tampa Bay surged late, fueling a 5-4 comeback as the bullpen couldn’t hold. Busch answered with a homer for Chicago, Caminero and Keller supplied the late power, and the ninth offered a glimmer of hope that Chicago couldn’t convert. Imanaga prepares for Sunday.