Best Padres vs. Cubs Player Prop Picks for NL Wild Card Series Game 3 Tonight
My best Padres vs. Cubs player props for Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series offers three best bets for this winner-take-all clash.
Though both clubs are World Series odds long shots, I'm targeting Ian Happ and Jackson Merrill to contribute offensively while looking to prolong their respective team's season.
First pitch is set for 5 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field in Chicago (ESPN).
⚾ 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 RBI (-107 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
- Ian Happ Over 1.5 hits, runs, and RBI (+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%.
Our Mike Spector also features this prop in his best MLB player props today, alongside four other plays for today's slate.
⬆️ Jackson Merrill Over 1.5 hits, runs, and RBI (-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 RBI (+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.
📈 Padres vs. Cubs odds update
San Diego opened as a -120 betting favorite, but those odds have shifted to -115 at many of the best sports betting sites.
Meanwhile, the odds on our Happ prop have improved to +109, so make sure you lock that one in before first pitch if you haven't already.
📺 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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