"The beauty of this time of year is one loss counts as one loss. I was making the joke to everybody that it’s not Champions League. It’s not an aggregate type situation. I don’t know how many of them understood that, but it’s an easy way to kind of flush it and move on and be ready." -Dansby Swanson

Brewers take Game 1 over the Cubs by a count of 9-3. Here’s the book ⤵️

Important showing from righty Aaron Civale. He gave Chicago 4 1/3 shutout innings, the longest scoreless relief outing in Cubs' playoff history. With Brewers holding a 9-2 lead, that helped Counsell unnecessarily use key arms in this one.

The damage done in the first inning…

Matthew Boyd -- pitching on short rest -- allowed three consecutive doubles to Chourio, Turang and Conntreras. Three different pitches, but all in the heart of the zone.

In the regular season, Busch had 16 homers out of the leadoff spot, including five to open a game in his 52 starts in that slot. He has homered twice in the postseason now -- his last AB in Game 3 vs. Padres and his first AB in Game 1 here vs. Brewers.

Michael Busch... leadoff home run.

The Brewers brought out the giant flag and a bald eagle for this one.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell gets a warm welcome from the Milwaukee crowd ahead of Game 1…

Counsell said Brown over Assad essentially came down to Brown’s ability to get a strikeout if needed. Brown over Rogers was based more on what Counsell anticipates from Milwaukee’s lineups and personnel.

Cubs' 26-man roster only has one change: Righty Ben Brown makes squad and lefty Taylor Rogers is off. Otherwise, same 14 player/12 pitcher setup as Wild Card round. With three off-days, Cubs could stick with Boyd, Imanaga and Taillon for rotation. Could also see a scenario where Rea gets a start.

Cubs go with slightly tweaked lineup for Game 1 vs. Brewers: Busch 1B Hoerner 2B Tucker DH Suzuki RF Happ LF Kelly C Crow-Armstrong CF Swanson SS Shaw 3B …………. SP: Boyd

Cubs announce that veteran lefty Matthew Boyd will take the ball in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Brewers. Boyd threw only 58 pitches in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series and warmed up in the 9th inning of Game 3. That essentially served as a bullpen session, though he will be pitching on short rest.

Cade Horton will not be active during the NLDS, Counsell announced today. The rookie’s eligibility date is ahead of a potential Game 5, but he is ruled out for this round.

Workout Day in Milwaukee. On the wall behind my press box seat, a foul-ball wound from a Colin Rea pitch. Hmm…

A few postgame scenes…

Cubs 3, Padres 1. Next up: Brewers in NLDS. The book ⤵️

A pile of defensive games in Game 3 by the Cubs. That includes this leaping grab from Hoerner in the 7th. In the wake of the play, the Wrigley faithful were chanting: "NICO! HOERNER!"

Taillon vs. Tatis through two battles: 6 pitches, 6 swings, 5 whiffs, 1 foul. Two strikeouts.

After making a sliding grab with a 10% catch probability in the first inning, Pete Crow-Armstrong gets the Cubs going offensively with an RBI single to center in the 2nd.

Machado sends a low liner 111.2 mph off the bat to center, but Pete Crow-Armstrong did what he does. Jogs off the field to a roaring "P-C-A!" chant.

"When you've got 40,000 pulling in your direction, I think that's always fun. We owe more playoff baseball to this fan base, for sure." -- Pete Crow-Armstrong, ahead of Game 3 vs. the Padres

A walk around Wrigley ahead of Game 3…

Cubs rolling with same lineup for decisive Game 3 against the Padres ⤵️

Game 3 of the Wild Card Series between the Padres and Cubs is set for 4:08 pm CT on ESPN.

Cubs announce that Jameson Taillon will start Game 3.

Padres 3, Cubs 0. Winner on Thursday moves on. The book ⤵️

At 21 years, 327 days, Moisés Ballesteros becomes 6th youngest in Cubs history to appear in playoffs: Phil Cavarretta 19 yrs, 75 days in 1935 Heinie Zimmerman 20 yrs, 241 days in 1907 Kerry Wood 21 yrs, 109 days in 1998 Addison Russell 21 yrs, 246 days in 2015 Bob O'Farrell 21 yrs, 321 days in 1918

In 5th, Arraez used a sac bunt to move Tatis up to second base. With two outs, Shota Imanaga opted to face Machado rather than put him on first base. Machado sent Shota's first pitch to the back of the left-field bleachers. Cubs down 3-0.

“Chelsea Dagger” playing as Shota Imanaga enters in the 2nd, and a few Blackhawks players at the game are shown on the big board. Big roar from the crowd, which sings along to their goal song.

The Padres got a run against Cubs opener Andrew Kittredge in the first inning. Back-to-back singles out of the gates from Tatis and Arraez, who then pull off a double steal. One run in via a sac fly from Merrill.

Hall of Famer and Cubs great Andre Dawson threw out the first pitch here ahead of Game 2 of the Wild Card Series.

Cubs stick with same lineup for Game 2: Busch 1B Hoerner 2B Happ LF Tucker DH Suzuki RF Kelly C Crow-Armstrong CF Swanson SS Shaw 3B

"Nobody is going home and teaching that swing to their kids. No offense to Nico, but nobody is going home and teaching that. But what you should be teaching is that this player said, 'I'm going to do my job here, no matter what.' That's essentially the mentality that he plays with." -- Counsell

Cubs announce that reliever Andrew Kittredge will be the opener/starter for Game 2.

Cubs take Game 1 of the Wild Card Series with a 3-1 win over the Padres. The book ⤵️

This is the 4th time the Cubs have gone back-to-back in a postseason game. Also: Montero-Fowler (Game 1 NLCS vs. Dodgers in '16) Bryant-Rizzo (Game 3 NLDS vs. Cardinals in '15) Davis-Durham (Game 4 NLCS vs. Padres in '84)

Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly go back-to-back and this old Wrigley Field press box is swaying a little bit.

Seiya Suzuki ended his regular season with homers in four straight games -- five launched in total. He ties things up, 1-1, in the 5th with a 112.2 mph shot to the left-field bleachers off Pivetta.

Boyd gives the Cubs 4 1/3 innings before Cubs manager Craig Counsell turns things over to the bullpen. Palencia coming in with a runner on in the 5th and Chicago down, 1-0.

Swanson has made a few great plays today so far. The diving stop to his right in 2nd to keep Bogaerts at third base, and in 4th a running, over-the-shoulder catch with runners on corners (again forcing the runners to stay put). Cubs trail 1-0 after T4.

Luis Arraez struck out just 21 times in 675 PAs this season. He went down swinging on an 0-2 count only six times. Matthew Boyd K'd him on three pitches to end the third inning.

Padres strike first with back-to-back doubles from Merrill and Bogaerts to open the 2nd inning. Bogaerts got to third on the play, but Boyd limited the damage the rest of the way, with the help of a slick diving snag by Swanson that kept the runner at third.

Boyd allowed more earned runs, homers and walks in the first inning than any other inning this season. The Cubs lefty set the Padres down in order in the first here in Game 1.

Play ball

2015 Cy Young Award winner and '16 World Series champ Jake Arrieta will be throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field this afternoon. Eddie Vedder will be singing the 7th Inning Stretch.

Getting closer to the Cubs’ first packed house for a playoff game at home since 2018.

Cubs’ Game 1 lineup ⤵️

No surprises on the Cubs' 26-man WC roster: C: Ballesteros, Kelly, McGuire INF: Busch, Castro, Hoerner, Shaw, Swanson, Turner OF: Alcántara, Crow-Armstrong, Happ, Suzuki, Tucker P: Boyd, Civale, Imanaga, Keller, Kittredge, Palencia, Pomeranz, Rea, Rogers, Soroka, Taillon, Thielbar

Soon.