For the first time since 1984 , somehow, the Cubs and Padres are set to square off in the National League playoffs. It hasn't been quite that long since they've seen each other this season, but it might feel like it; while the two clubs split their six games in 2025, their entire head-to-head slate was wrapped up by April 16.

Needless to say, there's not a whole lot you can take away from games that happened more than five months ago, not that head-to-head matchups tell you a whole lot about what's going to happen in a playoff series, anyway.

All we can do, then, is look at who's here, who's healthy, and who's hot. Let's see who has the edge, position by position.

Catcher

This is actually a lot closer than you’d think, because if you simply went by full-season Wins Above Replacement

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