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Padres vs Cubs series will come down to these 3 things

The San Diego Padres are entering the National League wild-card round against the Chicago Cubs on a vastly different footing compared to their meeting a year prior. After a sluggish beginning to the campaign that left them below the .500 mark late into July, a scorching 41-18 finish propelled the squad forward, powered by standout offensive production from Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill.

Meanwhile, the Cubs hold the advantage of hosting the matchup at Petco Park, seeking a repeat of their previous postseason elimination of San Diego at Wrigley Field, though their regular season dominance included winning five out of six meetings before the Padres found their stride.

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