The San Diego Padres have added veteran starting pitcher Joe Musgrove to their 26-man Wild Card Series roster against the Chicago Cubs, marking his first major league appearance since October 2, 2024. Musgrove, who underwent Tommy John surgery following his last outing, has been sidelined for nearly two full seasons due to recovery complications.
Musgrove’s return follows a brief rehab stint in August, during which he made four minor-league starts across Class-A and Triple-A levels, posting a 4.60 ERA and striking out 13 batters in 15.2 innings. Despite a minor setback during that period, the Padres elected to include him on the postseason roster over other pitching options, including Randy Vasquez, Wandy Peralta, Casey Mize, and Griffin Canning. The team did not specify whether Musgrove will return as a starter or in a bulk relief role.
The Padres secured the top Wild Card spot, granting them home-field advantage for the series opener at Petco Park. This marks the third consecutive season the Padres have qualified for the postseason, facing the Cubs in a rematch of last year’s NL Wild Card series, which Chicago won in a narrow series.
Musgrove’s Postseason History and Padres’ Pitching Decisions
Musgrove, 34, joined the Padres in 2021 and quickly established himself as a key starter, posting a 3.20 ERA over 98 games with the team. His best season came in 2022, when he was named an All-Star and recorded a 2.89 ERA in three postseason starts. In his final regular-season outing before surgery, Musgrove logged a 3.88 ERA over 99.2 innings, striking out 101 batters.
The Padres’ decision to include Musgrove comes amid a broader roster shakeup, with Miguel Andújar also making the Wild Card roster despite missing time due to a broken wrist. The team’s 20-year-old catcher, Ethan Salas, was added as expected, and if he appears in the series, he would become the youngest catcher ever to play in the MLB postseason.
Padres vs. Cubs: A Familiar Playoff Matchup
The Padres and Cubs previously met in last year’s NL Wild Card series, with Chicago advancing in a tight series. San Diego enters this year’s postseason with momentum, posting a 41-23 record in the second half of the season, while the Cubs struggled down the stretch, losing four of their final six games. Chicago was further hampered by the absence of Alex Bregman for all but one of those contests.
San Diego’s offensive core, including Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr., performed strongly in the final months, contributing to the team’s improved standing. The Padres’ Wild Card berth also reflects a strong home-field advantage, with Petco Park historically providing a challenging environment for visiting teams.
Machado’s Playful Press Conference Exchange
Padres third baseman Manny Machado drew attention ahead of the series for a lighthearted exchange with a local reporter. During a press conference, Machado questioned Karthik Venkataraman of CBS 8 about his attire, asking, “Aren’t you from San Diego? Why are you wearing blue?” When Venkataraman replied, “Do you like it?” Machado responded, “Obviously not,” before smiling. The exchange, while seemingly trivial, underscored Machado’s competitive tone as the Padres prepare for postseason play.