NL WILD CARD SERIES: CUBS VS PADRES

September 29, 2026

Manny Machado

Fernando Tatis

Petco Park

San Diego Padres

Postgame Press Conference

Padres - 8, Cubs - 0

Q. For both of you, it felt like from the first pitch to the last pitch to Joe, tonight probably could not have gone much better. How important was that to you guys to have everything happen as well as it did tonight?

MANNY MACHADO: Setting the tone, setting the tone early. Michael went out there, had a helluva first inning, set the tone for us to go there offensively. As an offensive group, we wanted to continue what we've been doing all year. We set the tone on, got the energy on our side. Petco was rocking today. It was unbelievable to play in front of.

Obviously what Michael did, seeing Joe come back, what our offense did -- just continue playing the baseball we've been playing.

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: Yeah, we couldn't script it any better, I feel like, what happened tonight. Today was a beautiful baseball night over here for every San Diegoan.

Q. Fernando, what did it feel like to get back? This is how you've performed in almost every postseason.

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: No, just being back on track. I feel, like you mentioned, I've done it before, so the confidence is there. Last year we had a lot of disadvantage, but that's already in the books and we already forgot about that. We already click on the right way this year, and we have our mind to keep it on that way.

Q. Fernando, I think this was the first time in two years that Matthew Boyd opened the game with a change-up. Did you go in like hunting that pitch? Was that just a read-and-react thing? How did that come about?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: I did not, especially first pitch of the game, that would be really odd. Man, like we mentioned earlier, we were ready to attack in the strike zone, and he left me a good pitch right there, and the rest is history.

Q. Did you guys coordinate the look with the sunglasses today before coming in here?

MANNY MACHADO: No, but you did, though. You made a good adjustment. That's when you go 3 for 3 like that. You make quick adjustments like that, you get hot.

Q. Fernando, I don't know if anyone's brought it up to you, but in that Wild Card series round in 2024, your first at-bat was a home run as well. And to hit a home run, is there any mentality just playing here at home and getting things off, right off the bat?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: I think it's just the energy, our fans, our group, how we're feeling playing at home, all that stuff just adds together, and you feel like your blood is running inside your body so fast. You have that adrenaline on your side, so might as well take advantage of it.

Q. I would appreciate it if each of you would answer. First of all, just how confident a team is this right now? And when superstars get a game off to a start like this in the first inning, what do you think it does for a hot team that wants to win a World Series, and how much does it mean to you personally to deliver?

MANNY MACHADO: I think as a group, it hasn't been roses as a group all year. We battled through ups and downs, and I think we learned from that. It was great to go through the struggles.

Obviously how we finished off the season on a high note, just trying to carry it on to the postseason. I think at the end of the day what we've learned through the struggles is just take it day by day, control what we can control, play our game, and we did that tonight.

Obviously we've got to continue doing it. Not all games are going to be like the ones today, but we're always ready for the battle, and this group is ready for the battle through thick and thin.

Yeah, if we want to get to where we want to get to as an organization and bring a championship to the city of San Diego, we have to perform at the highest level, but it takes a whole village, it takes a whole team. Everybody in there believes in it.

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: It takes everybody, like Manny mentioned. When stuff like that happens, everybody just feed from each other, and that's what a good team does. Coming out of the gate, playing a baseball game like this, I feel like it gives us a lot of momentum, but at the same time, we've still got to take care of business.

Q. What is more impressive and more enjoyable, hitting a lead-off home run on a change-up or scoring from second base on a stolen base attempt?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: Both of them were crazy. After that score, after that stolen base, I said to a couple people, I was screaming I'm going to pass out (laughter), just because all the energy and what was going on while it was happening.

But starting a game, being at home and hitting a first pitch home run like that, it just gets everybody going. It brings more energy to the boys. That's what it's all about. I feel like those two plays were just good baseball plays. But just energy. I feel like that's what matters the most for the boys.

MANNY MACHADO: I would take the stolen base and score from first. (Laughter.)

Q. Manny, probably no chance to prevent that hit at all, but you were obviously pretty frustrated. What were your thoughts on that?

MANNY MACHADO: I was pissed. I knew what was on the line, so I wanted to make the play. The PitchCom messed us up on that one. Technology, I guess, these days.

I was just trying to -- I know what's on the line. I know how important it is and obviously how well he was throwing the ball today. Just trying to hopefully make it happen. I know it was going to be tough obviously with that lineup and that team over there, but it was in motion. So just trying to make that play.

It was a change-up, one of the fastest guys in the league out in front. I knew I didn't have a play instantly, so I was just trying to rush and kind of plant my foot and give it my best shot over there. I didn't even think I would have got him anyways, but got to give it a shot.

Q. Among the disadvantages Tatis alluded to from last year, Michael was hurt, he was able to give you one inning. To have this Michael King, how important is that?

MANNY MACHADO: It's huge. He's been doing that for us all year. I don't know what it is, his last 10, 15 starts, whatever it is, he's been lights out. He's been carrying this pitching staff.

For him to go out and deliver like he did tonight, it definitely sets the tone for the rest of the pitching staff, for the rest of the team. I think he definitely set the tone today for Petco Park and for the Padres. So we're just going to continue to ride that wave.

Q. Manny, obviously Cubs will be desperate tomorrow, their season could end. What's the process of enjoying what you guys accomplished tonight, turning the page, and understanding that it's going to be a battle tomorrow?

MANNY MACHADO: The page is turned. Obviously, like I said, this isn't going to repeat. Hopefully it does. But I've been in quite a few games, and I know what type of ball club there is over there, and I know how the game of baseball is.

So it's definitely going to be a different story tomorrow. But ultimately playing our game. We've done it for the last three or four months, and we plan on doing the same thing. Coming back tomorrow, working, keep doing the same thing we've been doing, and playing our Padre baseball we've been doing.

Yeah, we're going to be ready for it. Obviously enjoy tonight, get some rest, but come tomorrow, just play some good baseball.

Q. Fernando, just to go back to the stolen base really quick, at what point do you decide there I'm going to try to score on this? As soon as you see it trickle on the left, is it a feel thing? When do you sort of make that decision?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: I saw it go into the outfield, and when I started going to third base, I gave a small peek and saw nobody really close. As soon as I attacked third base, that was kind of in between, and there was a small peek again to see where the ball was. Next thing we know, I was sliding head first at home plate.