The San Diego Padres dominant shutout reveals a terrifying rotation and explosive power that the Milwaukee Brewers would love to avoid.
The San Diego Padres obliterated the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the best-of-three National League Wild Card series, 8-0.
Ace Michael King carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and the Cubs would only record three hits in a game that saw them allow 13.
The Cubs pitching staff has long been regarded as the reason why this team would be held back from making a deep run, but their offense simply had no answers for this Padres pitching staff.
One game into this sprint series, it's been made clear that the Padres are indeed red-hot, and they have an incredible offense to back up what seems to be an unstoppable pitching staff.
King would pitch in Game 2 of NLDS
As long as everything goes according to plan for the Padres, that means the Milwaukee Brewers would have to face King in the second game of the best-of-five National League Division Series.
Logan Henderson vs. King sounds like an incredible showdown, and it's one that is just one game away from becoming a reality.
The Brewers have a love-hate relationship against star pitchers this season, and there's a real chance that if the NLDS were to go to five games, they'd have to face King not once but twice.
Where is Cubs offense?
There's no room for error in the Wild Card series, so to see this Cubs offense suddenly disappear is quite alarming.
Nico Hoerner provided two of their three hits, and while they drew four walks, they were just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
This Cubs team grounded into two double plays, and it's worth noting two of their three hits came in the top of the ninth against Joe Musgrove when this game was all but over.
Padres can hit long ball
Matthew Boyd's first pitch of the game was hit 405 feet to dead center, courtesy of Fernando Tatis Jr.
Three pitches later, Manny Machado took him 391 feet to left-center. Two of the first four pitches he threw were home runs, and that 2-0 deficit immediately messed with the Cubs' heads.
Brewers would rather face Cubs
After seeing what transpired in the first game, it's clear this Brewers team would much rather face their division rival.
Sure, Chicago would have quite a bit of momentum on its side if they were able to win the next two games of this series, but then they get to face a well-rested Brewers team in a best-of-five, and it's worth noting Milwaukee won nine of the 13 games these teams played against each other this season.
