BREAKING: Seiya Suzuki explodes, Cubs open “death battle” with Padres in Wild Card – who will fall?.y1

Chicago — Wrigley Field will be a real battleground this afternoon when the San Diego Padres visit and face the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card series opener. But the center of attention will be on Seiya Suzuki, the Japanese star who just had a spectacular late-season “comeback” — and has become the Cubs’ best hope of leading the way.

Suzuki had gone seven weeks without a home run — a drought any player would love to forget — but right at the “season finale,” he exploded with a bang: five home runs in the final four games, sending a huge morale boost into the Cubs locker room. In the final game of the regular season, he also played the hero role with a solo homer to give the team a 2-0 win, pushing his RBI total to 103 and making his opponents respect him.

For the Padres, the opening pitcher is Nick Pivetta — who has a 13-5 record and a 2.87 ERA this season.

But Pivetta is no “invisible pitcher.” He has had a mixed record against the Cubs: in a 7-1 loss in Chicago, and another 4-2 win on the road against the Cubs.

In his career, Pivetta has made six appearances against the Cubs (five starts), with a 3.96 ERA and a 2-2 record.

The Cubs have yet to name a starter for Game 1 — the two favorites are Matthew Boyd (14-8, 3.21 ERA) and Shota Imanaga (9-8, 3.73 ERA).

Of note: Imanaga has a 0.73 ERA against the Padres this season — a statistic that has many believing he could be a surprise weapon in the playoffs.

On the offensive front, the Cubs have more than just Suzuki. Nico Hoerner is hot, batting .337 in September, while Pete Crow-Armstrong has just contributed two home runs and four RBIs in four straight games.

The Phillies (err, Cubs) now have a back-to-back offense that could put pressure on their opponents. Suzuki said calmly: “Coming into the postseason, everyone is confident, especially the offense. Hopefully we can take advantage of that.”

Suzuki was “disastrously defeated” by the Padres in April — 1-for-13 and “crushed” by four strikeouts.

Will he be able to prove the difference in the rematch?

The Padres have a dangerous arsenal: Fernando Tatis Jr. has home runs in three of his last four games, and Luis Arraez is hitting .352 in September.

The Cubs and Padres have each won two of their three regular-season road games against each other, suggesting that home-field advantage isn’t all that dominant.

While the Cubs are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020 with a 92-70 record, the Padres are not far behind: 90-72, and this is their fourth postseason appearance in six.

If Suzuki continues to play well and “flip the switch” at the right time, the Cubs could turn home-field advantage into a significant mental advantage. But with the quick, powerful hitting of Tatis Jr. and Arraez, and a Pivetta who knows the ins and outs of his opponents, the Padres have every chance to pull off a shock.

Game 1 will be more than just the opening game — it could be the turning point, where pressure, experience, and individual brilliance will determine which team emerges as the clear front-runner in the race for survival. Both teams have strengths and weaknesses — but only one can win this game and continue their hopes of advancing.

Wrigley Field will be where the “last word” will be given by pitching, hitting, and fighting spirit. Are you, fans, ready for a “wild-card war”?