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.

San Diego’s season ended in a tense, controversial finish as a late strike call by D.J. Reyburn helped Chicago pull away in Game 3. The Padres’ offense stalled across the series, totaling just five runs and going 3-for-26 with runners in scoring position, leaving 19 on base as frustration spilled from the dugout.

ABS arrives next year, a potential game‑changer for postseason calls, but San Diego’s immediate takeaway is accountability for the umpiring and a call that altered the moment. Bogaerts, Tatis Jr., and Machado scuffled, underscoring the need for more run production to complement the pitching depth that carried the Cubs.

San Diego pitchers locked in at Wrigley, silencing Chicago to even the NL Wild Card Series at 1-1. Cease worked 3 2/3 innings, Morejon bridged, and Miller slammed the door in the late frames. Manny Machado’s two-run homer and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s first-inning run via a double steal jump-started the offense, while Luis Arraez supplied speed on the bases.

Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth finished the game with a decisive double play to seal it, setting up a do-or-die Game 3 at Wrigley. For fantasy, Machado’s power, Arraez’s baserunning, and the Padres' bullpen depth are the clear talking points as managers map lineup and streaming options.