Padres to Host Cubs in NL Wild Card Series at Petco Park, MTS Ramps Up Trolley Service

The San Diego Padres will host the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park beginning Tuesday, bringing postseason baseball back to downtown San Diego for the second straight year — this time with home-field advantage.

After a 10–7 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night, the Padres locked up the No. 4 seed and the right to host every game of the best-of-three opening round. Manny Machado hit his 30th home run of the season in the fourth inning to erase a 4–3 deficit, and the bullpen held the Diamondbacks scoreless for 4⅔ innings after a shaky start from Walker Buehler.

It marks the third consecutive postseason appearance for the franchise — a first in Padres history — and the third straight 90-win season. The team finished 50–31 at Petco Park this year, one of only five MLB clubs to reach 50 home wins.

Last year the Cubs eliminated the Padres in three games at Wrigley Field. This year the venue flips.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) announced Monday it will increase Trolley service for all three home games to handle expected sellout crowds.

"The excitement across San Diego is building as our hometown team begins its postseason journey, and MTS is ready to help fans get to every pitch," said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember for District 3, which includes Petco Park and the surrounding East Village and Gaslamp Quarter. "With direct service to Petco Park, the Trolley remains the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to get to the ballpark so fans can focus on cheering on the Padres, not sitting in traffic."

Three Trolley lines — the UC San Diego Blue Line, Orange Line, and Green Line — serve stations steps from Petco Park. For Games 1 and 2 (Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m.), the Green Line will run every 15 minutes or better, with extra service between Stadium and Gaslamp Quarter stations starting at 5:30 p.m. Post-game, Trolleys will depart every 15 minutes until crowds clear.

MTS also highlighted free Park & Ride lots at Old Town Transit Center (400+ spaces, plus 300+ overflow at Caltrans District 11), Grossmont Transit Center, El Cajon Transit Center, and other locations across the system. One-way fare is $2.50, rising to $3 on Oct. 1, payable via contactless credit card tap or the PRONTO app.

A first-pitch time for a potential Game 3 has not yet been announced. MTS said it will provide comparable extra service once the time is confirmed.

The series is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans to the East Village and Gaslamp Quarter over three nights, delivering a significant midweek boost to downtown bars, restaurants, and hotels during a stretch that would otherwise be a quiet period between summer tourism and the winter convention season.