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Bregman is starting as the designated hitter and batting second Tuesday for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Padres.
Bregman is not in the field Tuesday since it is the "safest way to make sure he gets at-bats" according to Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. With the 32-year-old starting as the designated hitter, Pedro Ramirez enters the lineup as the third baseman and Michael Conforto exits to the bench.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Not starting in series opener
Rotowire
Conforto is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Padres.
Alex Bregman has the start as the designated hitter instead of Conforto on Tuesday and is batting second. With Bregman not in the field, Pedro Ramirez is taking over at the hot corner.
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Cubs' Justin Steele: Left off wild-card roster
Rotowire
Steele (elbow) is not on the Cubs' roster for their wild-card series versus the Padres, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Steele has been out all season while recovering from UCL revision surgery and a flexor strain. He is physically ready to pitch now, having made four rehab appearances this month, but the Cubs have decided he's not a fit for their playoff roster. Steele could earn consideration in subsequent rounds, if his team advances.
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Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Absent from wild-card roster
Rotowire
Thielbar is not on the Cubs' roster for their NL Wild Card Series against the Padres, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Thielbar carried a 60:18 K:BB over 50 regular-season innings, but he also had a 4.86 ERA and served up a whopping 11 home runs. The lefty could be under consideration for the NLDS roster, should the Cubs advance.
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Cubs' Kevin Gausman: On roster for wild-card round
Rotowire
Gausman (shoulder) is on the Cubs' roster for the wild-card series against the Padres, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
Gausman injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder during his final start of the regular season last Wednesday. The Cubs have not yet announced their probable starters for Game 2 on Wednesday or a potential Game 3 on Thursday, but it's likely Gausman will start one of those contests. Gausman logged a 4.83 ERA and 57:11 K:BB over 50.1 innings in nine starts after the Cubs acquired him at the trade deadline.
Reid (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day injured list Sept. 15.
Reid missed most of the last few months of the 2026 season after suffering a shoulder impingement, but he managed to toss four scoreless frames against High-A Cedar Rapids on Sept. 5, striking out four along the way. He's also expected to play in the Arizona Fall League, signaling that he's made a full recovery.
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Cubs' Matthew Boyd: Will start Game 1
Rotowire
Boyd has been named the starting pitcher for Tuesday's Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Padres, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
This was the expected move from the Cubs, who last deployed Boyd against Miami on Thursday, allowing him to line up for the start in Game 1 of the wild-card round. The southpaw pitched well in his last six outings of the regular season, posting a 3.28 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 25 strikeouts over 35.2 innings.
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Cubs' Justin Steele: Tosses BP session Monday
Rotowire
Steele (elbow) threw a bullpen session off the mound at Petco Park on Monday, John Fanta of NBC Sports reports.
It remains to be seen if Steele, who has spent the season recovering from UCL revision surgery and a flexor strain, will be added to the roster for Chicago's wild-card series against the Padres. If he is added to the roster prior to Tuesday's Game 1, he would presumably be deployed out of the bullpen.
Rea tossed two scoreless innings of relief with a strikeout to earn the save in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Red Sox.
Rea was the fourth Chicago pitcher to enter the ballgame, following Shota Imanaga, Braxton Garrett and Jacob Webb, and he shut the door over the final two innings to secure his second save of the year. The veteran righty finishes the regular season with a 4.34 ERA across 137 innings in 34 games, which included 19 starts. Rea will likely have a low-leverage relief role for the Cubs in the postseason, though he can give the team some length out of the bullpen if needed.
