The Chicago Cubs are set for their first playoff appearance in five years, but how will their roster look against the San Diego Padres?

The Cubs have limited experience in the best-of-three game format, but with only one day off after the end of the regular season, they’ll have to balance the need for fresh pitching with the need for additional offense to help them advance into the next round of the playoffs.

So how will their roster shake out? Since the Cubs will only be playing at most a three-game series, our assumption is that they will go with 14 position players and 12 pitchers.

Starting Pitchers: Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Colin Rea, Jameson Taillon

The Cubs have already named Boyd their Game 1 starter, and while they haven’t decided on which player will take the ball in Game 2, they’ll undoubtedly be willing to use someone, likely Rea or Taillon, as a long-reliever if need be.

Bullpen: Aaron Civale, Brad Keller, Andrew Kittredge, Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Taylor Rogers, Michael Soroka, Caleb Thielbar

The Cubs’ bullpen is going to be in for a challenge, especially with Cade Horton not around to eat up innings in the rotation, but they do have some pitchers who have been pitching solidly recently.

That list includes Soroka, who has five strikeouts and zero earned runs allowed in 6.1 innings as a reliever since returning from the injured list.

Keller has a 0.96 ERA in the month of September, with 14 strikeouts, four walks and just one run allowed in 9.1 innings of work.

In two outings since returning from the injured list, Palencia has a pair of strikeouts and no hits allowed, so he could potentially be given a save opportunity if the need arises. Kittredge could also fill that role for the Cubs, though those save opportunities have been few and far between in recent weeks for the Cubs.

Civale has certainly earned himself a spot on the roster, with 14 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.08 in five appearances with the Cubs since being acquired from the White Sox.

We envision Civale, Pomeranz, Rogers and Thielbar filling out the bullpen.

Catchers: Moises Ballesteros, Carson Kelly, Reese McGuire

It is obvious the Cubs will carry both Kelly and McGuire on their roster, and after the way he’s been used in recent weeks, one has to assume that Ballesteros will be part of the mix too, especially if the Cubs keep an extra position player on their 26-man roster.

In the month of September, Ballesteros slashed .333/.435/.564, hitting a pair of home runs and driving in five RBI’s while coaxing seven walks. That kind of plate discipline and pop make him a very attractive option for the Cubs, especially considering they’ll face two righties in Nick Pivetta and Dylan Cease to start the wild card series.

Infielders: Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Matt Shaw, Dansby Swanson, Justin Turner

No real surprises among this bunch, as the first four will undoubtedly start and Turner will be kept around in the event the Padres bring out one of their dangerous lefty relievers during the series.

Outfielders: Kevin Alcantara, Willi Castro, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Kyle Tucker

The outfielder gets a bit trickier, as the Cubs will likely start Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field and Ian Happ in left. The question remains whether they’ll start Kyle Tucker in right field, or if they’ll have him serve as a designated hitter as he continues to work back from a calf injury.

Kevin Alcantara provides strong versatility as an outfielder off the bench, and Willi Castro provides the same while also being able to fill into an infield position.

Odd Men Out: Javier Assad, Carlos Santana, Jordan Wicks

The Cubs have already revealed that Santana, who was optioned from the roster to clear room for Kyle Tucker when he came off the injured list, will be on the team’s taxi squad for the opening round of the playoffs, according to multiple reports.

The Cubs need lefties in their bullpen given the Padres’ relative struggles against southpaws this season, but with Wicks having just pitched on Sunday, he probably won’t be available.

Finally, Javier Assad also pitched against the Cardinals on Sunday, likely ruling him out as a long relief option during the coming series.