Cubs vs. Padres Prediction, Odds & Props for Sept. 30: San Diego Sweeps!

Written By Jason Green | Published at September 30, 2026

Cubs vs. Padres prediction for Game 2 of NL Wild Card series. In Game 1 the Padres beat the Cubs 8-0. — Sep 29, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) celebrates after scoring against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

The San Diego Padres blanked the Chicago Cubs in Game 1, winning 8-0 and look to close out the NL Wild Card series tonight. Here you can find the latest odds and betting trends for this game, along with the starting pitching matchup and player props in this Cubs vs. Padres prediction.

Game 1 Recap

In the 8-0 win in Game 1 Michael King took a no-hitter into the seventh inning; Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts each hit a home run, and Jackson Merrill went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Cubs vs. Padres Odds

Here are the odds for Game 2 of this Wild Card series at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Moneyline: Cubs +116 / Padres -136
Total (Over/Under): Over 7.5 runs (+100) / Under 7.5 runs (-122)
Run Line: Cubs +1.5 runs (-200) / Padres -1.5 runs (+164)

In Game 2, the Padres are the favorites, and to show a moneyline example using $100, you bet $100 to win $116 on the underdog Cubs and bet $135 to win $100 on the favored Padres.

We have all the important info you need about the moneyline betting market in our moneyline betting guide.

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Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Cubs are 2-5 in their last seven games.
They are 3-7 in their last 10 road games.
They have an Over record of 9-4 in their last 13 games.
They are 0-6 in their last six games as an underdog.

The Cubs are 5-2 this season facing the Padres. They have been shut out in two of their last three games.

San Diego Padres Betting Trends

The Padres are 5-1 in their last six games.
They have an Over record of 7-3 in their last 10 games.
They are 10-1 in their last 11 home games.
They are 7-1 in their last eight games as a favorite.

While San Diego does not have the best World Series odds of the teams remaining, anything can happen in the playoffs.

Key Stats

Cubs

Runs Scored: 1st
Team ERA: 14th

Padres

Runs Scored: 15th
Team ERA: 10th

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Starting Pitching Matchup

Cubs

The Cubs send Kevin Gausman (9-12, 4.51 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) to the hill to help keep their season alive. They have lost his last three starts; in the first, he was rocked for seven runs, and in the next two, he gave up two runs each. He came to Chicago in early August in a trade with the Blue Jays, and they have won five of his nine starts with them. He has allowed no more than two runs in three of his last four outings. In one start this season against the Padres while with the Blue Jays, Gausman gave up three runs in six innings in a loss. This season, he has worked 177 2/3 innings, striking out 184 and walking 47.

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Padres

Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86 ERA, 1.01 WHIP) gets the call for the Padres, and they have won all four of his starts since he missed nearly five months with an elbow injury. He has allowed no more than two runs in any of his four starts this month, with a more-than-solid ERA of 1.45. He has not faced the Cubs this season but faced them twice last season, including the Wild Card series Game 1 where he gave up two runs in five innings in a 3-1 San Diego loss. This season, Pivetta has pitched only 34 2/3 innings, with 42 strikeouts and eight walks.

Cubs vs. Padres Prediction: Padres ML -136

As of Wednesday morning, a whopping 91% of public money bet on this game has backed the Padres. While I am not someone who likes to jump on bandwagons, I am going to do just that and back the Padres.

Pivetta has been great since missing most of the season with an injury, and since coming back, San Diego has won all four of his starts. He has been solid in all four, and that will continue with another good outing in Game 2. Gausman has been up and down since moving south of the border to join the Cubs. He has been pretty good in his last two starts, giving up two runs in each. However, the Cubs lost both of those outings and have lost his last three starts.

Pivetta will quiet down the Cubs and their top-scoring offense, and that is the main reason the Padres will win and close out the Wild Card series.

More Cubs vs. Padres Picks, Props and Best Bets

Fernando Tatis Jr. to hit a home run: (+350, FanDuel) – Tatis Jr. went yard in Game 1 of this series, and Gausman has given up at least one home run in his last five starts, where he gave up a total of eight.
Manny Machado to hit a home run: (+410, FanDuel) – Same exact reasoning as above.
Kevin Gausman 5+ strikeouts: (-155, DraftKings) – Gausman has at least six strikeouts in each of his last eight starts.
Kevin Gausman to give up Over 4.5 hits: (+105, DraftKings)– Gausman has allowed more than 4.5 hits in each of his last five starts.

If you ever need any more info on prop bets or just want to learn about them you should check out our prop betting guide.