SAN DIEGO (AP) — Back in 1984, Tony Gwynn, Steve Garvey and the San Diego Padres used the energy from their home crowd at Jack Murphy Stadium to rally from a 2-0 deficit in the National League Championship Series and stun Ryan Sandberg, Gary Matthews and the Chicago Cubs to reach their first World Series.
The players, stadium and playoff round are different now. But Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and the Padres hope to tap that home energy once again when they open a Wild Card Series against NL MVP frontrunner Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman and the Cubs starting Tuesday night at packed, raucous Petco Park.
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Chicago Cubs designated hitter Alex Bregman (3) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) stand in the on-deck circle before a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Urso)
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell walks back to the dugout during the fourth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Urso)
The score board at Petco Park showing the San Diego Padres will host the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 29 for the National League Wild Card series Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Karl Anderson)
San Diego Padres' Manny Machado celebrates after his three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Karl Anderson)
From the Padres’ standpoint, it’s way better than last year, when they lost 2-1 to the Cubs in the wild-card round at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The fourth-seeded Padres will host every game in the best-of-three series against the fifth-seeded Cubs. The winner will face the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers in a best-of-five Division Series.
The Padres had 66 sellouts and their total attendance of 3,347,081 this season was second in the majors behind the rival Los Angeles Dodgers at 4,034,219.
“It’s great. It’s nice to feel 45,000 people behind you, waving the yellow towels,” rookie manager Craig Stammen said Monday. “It’s just a good feeling when you go out there and get the lineups announced that we’re at home. There are no boo-birds and the whole fan base is for us and not against us.”
Chicago left-hander Matthew Boyd (10-5, 3.91 ERA) and Padres right-hander Michael King (12-10, 3.21) are scheduled to start Tuesday night.
Crow-Armstrong, who grew up in the Los Angeles area, made his case for NL MVP by becoming the first Cubs player to join the 40-40 club, with 45 home runs and 41 stolen bases.
Machado hit 30 homers for the eighth time in his big league career and fourth time in his eight seasons in San Diego.
Tatis had an unfathomable home run drought to start the season, taking until his 56th game, at Washington on May 30, to connect for the first time. He’s now recorded his fourth 25-homer season and has 38 stolen bases. He continues to make jaw-dropping home run robberies in right field, like the one that denied Francisco Lindor a grand slam at the New York Mets on Aug. 18. Tatis hit two homers in that game.
The Cubs dominated San Diego 5-1 in the season series, including handing the Padres their worst loss ever, 23-3 at Wrigley Field on July 1, when they hit eight home runs.
But the Padres turned it around after the All-Star break, going 43-23, the second-best mark in the majors, to clinch their club-record third straight postseason berth and, at 91-71, their third consecutive 90-win season.
“I think we’re firing on all cylinders,” King said. “I think the last two months, 2 1/2 months, the offense has possibly been the best in baseball. We’ve really come together as a starting rotation, and the bullpen is obviously a strong piece. I think that, when you look at us, we don’t really have many weaknesses.
“I think that we’re very confident in what we’ve been doing the last few weeks, and we’re very happy that this is the time that we got hot, and we’ve just got to continue it throughout all this postseason.”
Bregman went 4 for 4 with two home runs and four RBIs as the designated hitter Sunday in his second game back from a frightening injury.
Bregman took grounders at third base during Monday's workout, but manager Craig Counsell isn't sure when he'll return to third base.
“I haven’t made a decision there yet,” Counsell said. “I think today was a much better day than kind of how he looked in Tampa. I think it’s just a sign on like how he’s feeling just overall. The fractures are not healed. You know, it’s just how he’s feeling, kind of just pain-wise and things like that. Moving around, swelling, like, just much less. He still has fractures in his face and I think that’s kind of what we have to weigh.”
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Chicago Cubs designated hitter Alex Bregman (3) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) stand in the on-deck circle before a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Urso)
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell walks back to the dugout during the fourth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris Urso)
The score board at Petco Park showing the San Diego Padres will host the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 29 for the National League Wild Card series Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Karl Anderson)
San Diego Padres' Manny Machado celebrates after his three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Karl Anderson)
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 29, 2026--
NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc. (“NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS”; formerly NTT Communications Corporation) and stc group, Saudi Arabia’s leading digital enabler, today announced the launch of an IoT connectivity solution 1 for Komatsu Ltd. (Komatsu) construction equipment in Saudi Arabia, a country with specific telecommunications regulations 2.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260928016604/en/
AI-generated Image of construction equipment
1. Background
Komatsu’s construction equipment operates across Saudi Arabia. The company is expanding its connected services through “Komtrax 3 ”, a telematics and remote monitoring system that wirelessly captures essential operational data from construction equipment. Through remote monitoring, data analytics, and predictive maintenance, the service offers greater visibility into equipment utilization, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing competitiveness.
To support the international expansion of Komatsu’s connected services, NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS partnered with stc group to deliver stable, in-country IoT connectivity that meets local telecommunications regulations for Komatsu’s construction equipment in Saudi Arabia.
NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS handled solution design and end-to-end delivery, while stc group provided local expertise, connectivity services and technology, including SIMs and Connectivity Management Platform 4 (“CMP”), to support seamless deployment across the Kingdom.
2. Overview of the IoT connectivity solution
In Saudi Arabia, the solution delivers three core capabilities:
a. Regulatory-aligned, in-country connectivity services
NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS establishes the contractual and operational framework required to address local telecommunications regulations, while stc group provides in-country connectivity services to comply with those regulations.
b. High-quality connectivity powered by stc group’s network and CMP
The solution uses stc group’s advanced network and CMP to provide reliable and scalable connectivity for Komatsu’s construction equipment. This enables reliable telemetry data collection and management across broad coverage areas.
c. End-to-end support, from design to build-and-run
NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS provides end-to-end support from design through implementation and operations, helping Komatsu address country-specific telecommunications requirements while minimizing the need for changes to its connectivity model.
3. Looking Ahead: Scaling compliant IoT connectivity
NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS will continue to collaborate with global IoT service providers and local telecommunications operators to deliver end-to-end IoT connectivity solutions that comply with local telecommunications regulations and connectivity requirements across countries and regions.
More broadly, NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS is enhancing its platform capabilities under its “AI-Centric ICT Platform® 5 ” vision to address the diverse IoT needs of the AI era. In line with this vision, the company continues to strengthen its service platform through the new, global-ready “Pro” plan of docomo business SIGN® 6, a secure Network as a Service (NaaS) solution for IoT.
Through these solutions and services, NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS will continue to support the global expansion of customers providing advanced IoT devices and digital services, including construction equipment and automotive manufacturers.
About NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS
NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc. is Japan’s leading comprehensive global ICT solutions provider. We are an Industrial and Regional AX Platformer driving digital transformation across industries and communities, enabling the development of a decentralized, autonomous, and collaborative society where businesses and communities can thrive sustainably. Our mission is to unlock new value and help create prosperity for all. For more information, please visit
https://www.ntt.com/en/index.html
About stc group:
stc group is a digital enabler, offering advanced solutions and driving a role in the digitalization process. The group provides a comprehensive suite of services encompassing digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT), digital payments, digital media, and digital entertainment. The group comprises 13 subsidiaries across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.
To know more about stc group: https://www.stc.com/content/stcgroupwebsite/sa/en/who-we-are.html
1. IoT connectivity solution: This solution is delivered by NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS as part of its broader global IoT connectivity framework, which is supported by strategic partnerships, including an agreement with Airlinq Inc. entered into in February 2026, to enable the deployment of IoT connected solutions in regulated markets.
Press Releases March 2, 2026:NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS and Airlinq Form Strategic Partnership for Global IoT | NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS About Us
2. Country with specific telecommunications regulations: a country that restricts or prohibits long-term roaming or permanent telecommunications services by foreign operators that do not hold a telecommunications license in the country.
3. Komtrax: Komatsu’s wireless monitoring system that enables the remote collection and visualization of essential operational information from construction equipment.
4. Connectivity Management Platform: a system used to manage and control connectivity and SIM-related information for IoT devices in a unified manner.
5. AI-Centric ICT Platform®: a next-generation ICT platform designed for the AI era, enabling enterprises to leverage AI to fundamentally improve productivity, strengthen competitiveness, and transform their business models.
6. docomo business SIGN®: a Network as a Service (NaaS) for IoT provided by NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, with security capabilities built in as standard features.
Overview of the solution and of each partner’s responsibilities
AI-generated Image of construction equipment
