TAMPA, Fla. — The Chicago Cubs begin their playoff journey Tuesday against the same wild-card foe as last year, hoping for the same outcome.

Many of the same core players are back on both the Cubs and San Diego Padres, though the Cubs added Alex Bregman, who could be the X factor in the series.

What makes this Cubs team believe it can repeat last year’s success?

“Togetherness, attention to detail and guys that know what they do well and know what they need to do to prepare,” Bregman said after homering twice in Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. “When it comes to the playoffs, it comes down to executing. If you do that, you’re in a good spot.”

The biggest difference this year might be the site — San Diego’s Petco Park instead of Wrigley Field, where the Cubs won the series in three games in ’25 in a wild atmosphere. Playing the Padres last October could be beneficial.

“I’m sure there is some degree to that,” starter Matthew Boyd said. “But the reality of the matter is every team this time of the year is a good team, and we’ve been in this situation. We’re ready for it, and excited for that challenge.”

The first two games will start at 10 p.m. ET, and air on Peacock. So get a nap in, and don’t forget to sign up for that free 7-day trial subscription if you don’t have the app.

History lesson

San Diego’s fan base was considered laid back when the Cubs and Padres met in the postseason in 1984. Or at least until they were riled by syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Mike Royko, who called them “sushi eaters” and insulted their knowledge of baseball. The Padres rode the wave of their crazed fans to a 3-2 win in the National League Championship Series, grabbing all three games at home after trailing 0-2.

That laid-back reputation is ancient history. Padres fans are now among the game’s most boisterous, and their 51-30 home record is no coincidence.

“They have a great atmosphere,” second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “It’s probably one of the places that’s changed the most over the last 10 years or so. They have a great fan base. It’ll be electric, a lot of fun and challenging.”

One for the road

Meanwhile, the Cubs finished out the regular season beating the Red Sox in the game relocated by a nor’easter in New England, ending with an 89-73 record, 14 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.

A raucous crowd of 20,411 showed up, the majority of whom were Cubs fans. The Tampa Bay Rays averaged 17,469 at the Trop, third-worst attendance in the majors, so maybe there are more Chicagoans than Rays fans in the area.

Time ran out on Justin Steele’s comeback attempt in 2026. The Cubs called up Braxton Garrett instead of Steele, optioning Gavin Hollowell. Garrett allowed one run over five innings on Sunday to notch the win, his first as a Cub.

All in all, a short, strange trip.

“Strange, having a Saturday off day is a weird thing in baseball,” Hoerner said. “Just able to get the guys together and hang out and have a good time. Just laid around, slept in and then had dinner as a group, which is always nice to do.”

Fractured fairy tale

Bregman texted manager Craig Counsell on Sunday morning with the phrase “LFG.” Counsell wasn’t sure what it meant at first.

Any concerns over whether the multiple facial fractures in Bregman’s left cheek would affect his hitting were alleviated Sunday when he homered in his first two at-bats, giving him 28. Bregman went 4 for 4 with 4 RBI, finishing his first season in Chicago hitting .265 with 93 RBI and an .819 OPS.

Bregman said in the first half that his numbers would be there, and he backed that up. Was he satisfied with his stats?

“Definitely not satisfied,” he said. “Because I felt like the first four months of the season, I don’t know what that was. I was embarrassed to put that on tape. But the last two months of the season I felt like that’s who I am as a player. I’m proud to know that no matter how big of a hole I dug myself, I can find my way back out of it and get over .800 (OPS). I learned a lot this year and feel like I got better.”

Bregman took grounders at third base on the off-day Saturday, but the Cubs appear likely to keep him exclusively at DH in the wild-card series. He said he’s ready to do what he’s asked. The hitting is what matters most. “Is that exposure (at third) worth it?” Counsell asked rhetorically. “Does it make it that much better, at the risk of (losing) at-bats? That’s what we have to consider, and then the player’s health and well-being, too.”

PCA watch

Pete Crow-Armstrong singled in his first at-bat and was removed for pinch-runner Tyrone Taylor, ending his consensus MVP season hitting .280 with 45 home runs, 107 RBI and 41 stolen bases. Former Cub Alfonso Soriano drove an hour from his Florida home for a quick visit with Crow-Armstrong, saying he just wanted to “welcome him into the (40-40) club,” which Soriano joined in 2006 with the Washington Nationals. Soriano and Crow-Armstrong are among the seven members of the elite fraternity.

Crow-Armstrong played in all 162 games and led the majors in bWAR (9.8), total bases (357), runs (119), fielding run value (27) and outs above average (26), and was tied with Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber for the home run crown. He also led the National League in slugging (.570) and OPS (.942). It was easily the greatest season of any Cubs player when factoring in both offensive and defensive dominance.

“I haven’t seen somebody’s name chanted like that since he’s been in the league, and it started last year,” Counsell said. “It’s really something to perform with all that on you on a regular basis. I’m kind of a fan. You’re part of enjoying it, and it’s the things you remember about the job, moments like that and moments he’s provided all of us.”

Gausman healing

Kevin Gausman threw a bullpen Sunday after hurting his left shoulder on a tag play last week, and said it felt “normalish.” The right-hander could be in line to start one of the first two games against the Padres, whose best hitters are right-handed. Counsell won’t announce his Game 1 plans until Monday, or perhaps even Tuesday.

Gausman wants to go, but doesn’t want to hurt the team, making it a tough decision.

“Absolutely,” he said. “And that’s why today was a big step in the right direction. Yeah, I’m going to go out and give everything I’ve got. But if I feel like I can’t give this team a chance to win or pitch the way I know I can, then I need to be smart and think about these guys and not myself. Honestly, it’s pretty easy this time of year because everybody is chasing the same goal — to get to the World Series in any way, shape or form.”

Shota mystery

Shota Imanaga made a one-inning start Sunday against the Red Sox, striking out three and allowing a solo home run. Counsell wouldn’t disclose Imanaga’s status for the playoffs, though if he does make the wild-card roster, it could be as a situational lefty. Most of the Padres’ power is from the right side, which doesn’t bode well for Imanaga, who had a decent season but allowed 35 home runs, tied for second-most in the majors.

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