The San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs are about to renew acquaintances in a three-game series that carries more weight than any regular season matchup has a right to. This is not just another series on the schedule — this is a NL Wild Card Series REMATCH, and the memories of last year's dramatic postseason clash will be FRESH in the minds of every player, coach, and fan when these two teams take the field at Petco Park. If you thought the Wild Card Series was intense, just wait until you see what happens when these rivals meet again with early-season positioning on the line. The series begins Monday at 6:40 PM on Padres.TV, with Game 2 at the same time on Tuesday and the finale at 1:10 PM on Wednesday. Three games, two teams with legitimate postseason aspirations, and one burning question: who will gain the upper hand this time around? The Cubs won last year's Wild Card Series in three games, but the Padres will be desperate to exact a measure of revenge on their home turf. The Cubs come into this series with a 17-11 record, good for second place in the NL Central, one game behind the Cincinnati Reds. They had won 10 consecutive games before dropping their last two at Dodger Stadium, and their plus-31 run differential is the fourth-best in all of Major League Baseball. This is a team that can hit, pitch, and defend, and they have proven that they can beat anyone on any given day. Seiya Suzuki has been ABSOLUTELY SCORCHING at the plate, posting a 1.183 OPS over the past week with four home runs in his last six games. Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson have also been productive, and rookie designated hitter Moises Ballesteros is hitting .438/.526/.875 over the past week — numbers that are almost IMPOSSIBLE to believe. The Padres, meanwhile, are 18-9 and sitting in second place in the NL West, a half-game behind the Dodgers. They had won six consecutive series before blowing a lead in the seventh inning Sunday in Mexico City, settling for a split with Arizona. Their plus-12 run differential is seventh-best in the majors, and their overall record is the third-best in the National League, behind only the Braves (20-9) and the Dodgers (19-9). The Padres have been one of the most consistent teams in baseball, and their deep roster gives them the ability to win games in a variety of ways. The pitching matchups will be CRUCIAL in determining the outcome of this series. Both teams have deep rotations and dominant bullpens, which means runs could be at a premium. The team that executes better in high-leverage situations — with runners in scoring position, in late innings, and with the game on the line — will likely emerge victorious. The Padres have the home-field advantage, but the Cubs have proven they can win on the road. This series has all the makings of a CLASSIC, and the baseball world will be watching with BATED BREATH.