Padres’ superstars show Cubs how it’s done in Game 1 rout

SAN DIEGO — Are you freaking out yet, Cubs fans?

Because that was $970 million worth of superstar that took starting pitcher Matthew Boyd over the outfield wall in Game 1 of the wild-card playoffs, an 8-0 romp that made this best-of-three series seem, at least at the outset, like no series at all.

Fernando Tatis Jr. homered on Boyd’s very first pitch, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong reaching his glove as high as he could at the fence to no avail. Just like that, a gauntlet was thrown down by a man with a $340 million contract and offensive numbers that, for the last four months, have been right there with those of the soon-to-be National League MVP.

“Start a game, being at home and hitting a first-pitch home run like that, it just gets everybody going and it brings more energy to the boys,” Tatis said. “And that’s what it’s all about.”

Two batters later, still in the first inning, Manny Machado took Boyd not so gently into the good night. Ding, ding, ring up another $350 million.

“We’re always ready for the battle,” Machado said. “This group is ready for the battle through thick and thin.”

And before Boyd’s regrettable night was through, Xander Bogaerts tagged him, too, into the second deck down the line in left. Let’s see, what’s left from 970? Ah, yes, a player the Padres invested merely $280 million in — even this one, nearly $100 more than the highest-price-tag Cubs contract ever, which still belongs to Jason Heyward — made it a mega-money triple shot of “Our best is a hell of a lot better than yours.”

Let’s not kid ourselves — this was quite a jolt.

Scary. Intimidating.

Who’s betting on the Cubs to win Games 2 and 3 against the hottest team in baseball over the last two-plus months — which happens to be the hottest it has been right now, with 18 wins in its last 21 games counting Tuesday?

Any takers? Any at all?

All three Padres stars had multiple hits, which is more than could be said about the entire Cubs team until the ninth inning. Michael King sliced and diced Cubs hitters for seven one-hit innings, the only blemish coming on an infield dribbler off the bat of Nico Hoerner. If King isn’t a straight-up ace, he sure looked like one. The Cubs no doubt had a hand in creating the impression.

It wasn’t just the Cubs’ hitting stars — namely Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman — who failed to ring the bell, but rather the entire lineup. We are left to wonder if a much-ballyhooed lineup that struggled down the stretch is really anything special at all.

Not that the Cubs’ pitching situation is any easier to lean on. It isn’t.

Trouble has arrived.

The Padres’ superstars made sure of it.

“They energized the entire stadium,” second baseman Jake Cronensworth said. “Those guys go, we go.”

“You just follow your leaders,” center fielder Jackson Merrill said. “That’s how we roll.”

Perhaps Crow-Armstrong and Bregman will return the favor in Game 2 and turn this into a series after all. Wouldn’t that be nice?

But the Padres are on fire. They’re busting at the seams with confidence. They have all the momentum and mojo in the world — and, apparently, all the money.

“Well, that’s not how you draw it up,” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts deadpanned as he stepped onto a crowded elevator after the game.

The giant money talked when it mattered most.

All the Cubs could do was shut up and listen.