3 things for Brewers fans to watch for in Game 2 of Padres and Cubs' Wild Card Series

For the second consecutive postseason, the Milwaukee Brewers await the winner of the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs as their opponent in the NLDS. Unlike last year, San Diego enters the series with home-field advantage, a significant development given Chicago’s challenging finish to the regular season. The Cubs wrapped up the year on the East Coast, navigating unpredictable weather and a doubleheader during the final weekend of the regular season, before having to travel to the West Coast for their best-of-three series with the Padres.

On Tuesday night, the Padres won the series opener in convincing fashion. Fernando Tatis Jr. homered on the first pitch of the game, Manny Machado homered two batters later, the Cubs didn't collect their first hit until the seventh inning, and the scoreboard read 8-0 in favor of San Diego after Joe Musgrove earned the final out in the top of the ninth. By all accounts, it was a shellacking by the Padres, but that certainly doesn't mean the series is over.

The Cubs will send trade deadline acquisition Kevin Gausman to the mound in Game 2 tonight (which kicks off at 9:00 p.m. CT on Peacock), and the Padres will counter with right-hander Nick Pivetta. A win from Chicago will set up a winner-takes-all Game 3 on Thursday night, which is not only what Cubs fans are hoping for, but the outcome Brewers fans should want as well. Regardless of who ends up winning, the Brewers want the victorious squad to have to exhaust more of their pitching staff before Saturday's NLDS opener. In addition to pitching usage, there are several storylines Brewers fans should be watching out for in tonight's Cubs-Padres tilt as Craig Counsell's squad tries to keep their season alive.

3 things for Brewers fans to monitor as Cubs try to keep their season alive in San Diego

1. What version of Alex Bregman will the Cubs get?

Remarkably, Alex Bregman is on the Cubs’ postseason roster after suffering multiple facial fractures on September 20 when a foul ball struck him while he was in the on-deck circle. Bregman appeared in two of Chicago’s final three games and went 0-for-4 in one of them and 4-for-4 with two homers in the other one. In Tuesday night's opener against the Padres, Bregman once again went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Which version of the All-Star third baseman the Cubs end up getting could be the difference in Game 2.

There is also the added element of Bregman not being able to play third base after his freak injury. Bregman, who had an excellent season defending the hot corner, has been forced to serve as Counsell's DH since the injury, which has forced Michael Conforto, who was excellent against right-handed pitchers this year, to the bench. As such, there is added pressure for Bregman to perform at the plate as the Cubs look to avoid elimination tonight.

2. How will key starting pitchers Kevin Gausman and Nick Pivetta perform in their 2026 playoff debuts?

Neither the Cubs nor the Padres are known for their starting pitching. Each has a fine group of starters, but the rotation is by no means either of the two clubs' roster strength. As a result, fans didn't know what to expect from Cubs' starter Matthew Boyd and Padres' starter Michael King in last night's series opener. The performances from those two starters couldn't have been more different. Boyd surrendered four earned runs on three homers and covered just four innings. King, on the other hand, threw seven shutout innings while compiling eight strikeouts and allowing just one hit.

Tonight's pitching matchup comes with similar uncertainty. Cubs' deadline acquisition Kevin Gausman was by no means great in the final two months of the regular season, with a 4.83 ERA in nine starts to prove it, and is nursing a left shoulder injury that he sustained one week ago. However, Gausman has a long track record of success in the postseason, and will undoubtedly be a key part of the Cubs' pitching staff should they advance to play the Brewers in the NLDS. Padres' starter Nick Pivetta, meanwhile, missed much of the 2026 season after elbow inflammation landed him on the IL in mid-April. However, Pivetta returned in early September and posted a 1.45 ERA in four starts during the final month of the regular season.

Each of these two starters will certainly play roles on the team's respective pitching staffs in a matchup against the Brewers in the NLDS. Therefore, their performances tonight are worth monitoring as both the Cubs and Padres don't otherwise have a dominant rotation.

3. How much will each manager have to use their best relievers in Game ?

The Padres won Game 1 without either of their top two relievers -- Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon -- thanks to their eight-run advantage when King's night came to an end. San Diego used Yuki Matsui, who had an excellent 2026 regular season, and Joe Musgrove, who was making his first appearance since 2024, in last night's game, meaning their bullpen is essentially at full strength for Game 2 tonight. The Brewers would certainly prefer that San Diego at least have to use Miller and Morejon once if the Padres do end up advancing to the NLDS.

Meanwhile, Counsell used four relievers last night -- Javier Assad, Ryan Rolison, Aaron Civale, and Jacob Webb -- but only Civale surpassed the 20-pitch mark. Counsell avoided using Ryan Zeferjahn and Daniel Palencia, but will almost certainly need both in order to defeat the Padres and advance to the NLDS.

How each manager uses their pitching staff could have a major impact on their pitching strategy in the NLDS, which is why Brewers fans should be keeping a close eye on which arms are used tonight, and which are hopefully used in Game 3 tomorrow.

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