SAN DIEGO — The Chicago Cubs have been weighing the risk of playing Alex Bregman at third base the last few days.

Manager Craig Counsell ultimately erred on the side of caution. Bregman, 10 days removed from sustaining facial fractures in his left cheek from a foul ball, will be the Cubs’ designated hitter Tuesday night in Game 1 of their wild-card series against the San Diego Padres. Bregman has been taking grounders at third base the last few days and reported feeling good.

“I played it safe, I’ll be honest with you,” Counsell said. “I just think this is a man seven days off of facial fractures, and I think his at-bats are the most critical thing for our team ... That’s what’s most important.

“I feel like this is a better way to guarantee that he gets these at-bats. There’s just more risk playing the field. Could it go fine? Yeah. Does he want to play the field? He does. This is just a safer way to go to make sure he gets all his at-bats.”

This marks Bregman’s 10th consecutive postseason, a rarity appearing in the playoffs every season of his big-league career. He’s slugged 19 home runs, 18 doubles and tallied 55 RBIs in 102 career playoff games entering Tuesday.

“Just his attitude from within hours of being hit in the face, how quickly he reoriented everything to being ready for the playoffs and every decision he made, worked backwards from that, just kind of a reflection of what he values,” second baseman Nico Hoerner said Tuesday. “He’s one of the great playoff performers in baseball history, and I’m glad he’s on our side for it.”

With Bregman in the DH spot, rookie Pedro Ramírez gets the start at third base as a switch-hitter facing Padres right-hander Michael King. The 22-year-old is one of five Cubs in their first postseason, along with right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn, left-hander Ryan Rolison, right-hander Javier Assad and catcher Miguel Amaya.

“I love how he approaches baseball because he’s very excited and passionate about getting better,” Hoerner said of Ramírez. “But he never seems overwhelmed, which is a pretty cool combo and something that fits playoff baseball really well.”

Counsell did not announce the Cubs’ Game 2 starter pregame Tuesday. Right-hander Kevin Gausman (left shoulder) was included on their wild-card roster, but Counsell didn’t have any further insight on the veteran’s status.

“I don’t have a lot of information from (Monday) night to right now, so we’re kind of status quo there,” Counsell said. “Nothing’s happened since last time we talked, unfortunately.”

Gausman was seen throwing a bullpen at Petco Park pregame Tuesday. It’s unclear, though, whether it was a touch-and-feel ’pen session that would keep him in play for Wednesday’s Game 2 or a more rigorous between-start bullpen that would potentially line him up for Game 3 if necessary on Thursday.

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