Best Padres vs. Cubs Player Prop Picks for NL Wild Card Series Game 3
The San Diego and Chicago Cubs square off in a win-or-go-home showdown tonight, and I’m breaking it down with my best Padres vs. Cubs player props for Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series. First pitch from Wrigley Field in Chicago is set for 5 p.m. ET (ESPN).
The game is lined as a pick 'em as both clubs sit well down the board in the World Series odds. My MLB picks fade Padres pitcher Yu Darvish, while expecting strong offensive performances from Jackson Merrill and Ian Happ.
⚾ Best Padres vs. Cubs player props: Game 3
MLB player prop bets for NL Wild Card Series Game 3; odds subject to change.
- Yu Darvish Under 3.5 strikeouts (-106 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
- Jackson Merrill Over 1.5 hits, runs, and RBIs (-107 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
- Ian Happ Over 1.5 hits, runs, and RBIs (+107 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
💰 Best player prop picks for Game 3
Our MLB player prop odds tool shows the best odds for every market across legal sportsbooks in your area.
⬇️ Yu Darvish Under 3.5 strikeouts (-106) ⭐⭐⭐
The Padres pulled Dylan Cease despite his 3 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts in Game 2. There’s no reason to expect San Diego manager Mike Shildt to approach the decisive game in the series any differently.
I’m inclined to fade Darvish after he struck out less than a batter per inning pitched during the regular season. His numbers were also much worse away from Petco Park, with a 7.26 ERA and only 27 strikeouts in 31 innings.
A winning $10 bet would yield a profit of $9.43 at FanDuel. The -106 odds have an implied probability of 51.46%.
⬆️ Jackson Merrill Over 1.5 hits, runs, and RBIs (-107) ⭐⭐⭐
Merrill crushed right-handed pitching during the regular season, posting an .844 OPS with 14 of his 16 home runs. He also had a higher batting average and on-base percentage on the road.
Merrill did major damage against both fastballs and offspeed pitches in 2025. That could be a recipe for success against Jameson Taillon’s cutter and sweeper, which allowed slugging percentages of .634 and .576, respectively, during the regular season.
A $10 wager on Merrill to hit the over on this prop would provide a profit of $9.35 and has an implied probability of 51.69%.
🔥 Ian Happ Over 1.5 hits, runs, and RBIs (+107) ⭐⭐⭐
Happ has been quiet in the first two games of the series. I still like getting this player prop at plus money as Happ’s balanced offensive profile should line up well against Darvish.
He was a much better hitter at Wrigley Field in 2025, posting better numbers in every major offensive category than his statistics on the road. I’m confident Happ can tap into the offensive momentum he built in the second half of the season, when he registered an .859 OPS, compared to the .701 mark he managed before the All-Star break.
A $10 winning wager on Happ’s Over would provide a profit of $10.70. The implied probability of the +107 odds are 48.31%.
📊 Padres vs. Cubs odds: Game 3
Latest MLB odds updated live in real time.
📺 How to watch Padres vs. Cubs: Game 3
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025
- First pitch: 5 p.m. ET
- Where: Wrigley Field (Chicago)
- TV: ESPN
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