Padres on deck: NL Wild Card Collection rematch with the Cubs

Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres

• Sport 1: 6:40 p.m. Monday (Padres.TV)
• Sport 2: 6:40 p.m. Tuesday (Padres.TV)
• Sport 3: 1:10 p.m. Wednesday (Padres.TV)

 

Within the standings

Chicago Cubs (17-11, 2nd in NL Central)

The Cubs had received 10 in a row earlier than shedding their final two video games at Dodger Stadium. They continue to be a sport behind the Reds within the NL Central, whereas their plus-31 run differential is fourth finest within the majors. Chicago break up its six video games in opposition to the Padres final yr, however Chicago bounced the Padres in three video games within the NL Wild Card Collection.

San Diego Padres (18-9, 2nd in NL West)

The Padres had received six straight collection earlier than shedding a lead within the seventh inning on Sunday in Mexico Metropolis as they settled for a break up with Arizona. The Padres went 5-3 on the highway journey by way of Anaheim (2-1), Colorado (2-1) and Mexico Metropolis to play Arizona (1-1). The Padres’ plus-12 run differential is seventh finest within the majors. Their document is third finest, behind the Braves (20-9) and the Dodgers (19-9).

 

Trending

Chicago: The Cubs are hitting .291/.379/.489 during the last week, with OF Seiya Suzuki (1.183 OPS) accounting for 4 of the workforce’s 13 homers over that stretch. 1B Michael Busch (.881 OPS) and SS Dansby Swanson (.734 OPS) each have two residence runs within the final week. Rookie Moises Ballesteros DH Moises Ballesteros is hitting .438/.526/.875 during the last week. LHP Hoby Milner (2.70 ERA) leads the workforce with 13 appearances on the season, adopted by 12 from RHP Jacob Webb (4.66 ERA).

San Diego: The Padres performed 5 straight video games in elevation, however solely two regulars had an OPS over .570 in Colorado and Mexico Metropolis: SS Xander Bogaerts (.929) and 3B Manny Machado, who homered twice on Sunday to push his OPS to .889. On the flip aspect, 5 Padres completed that portion of the journey below .600: 2B Jake Cronenworth (.568), OF Ramón Laureano (.566), OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (.542), 1B Gavin Sheets (.529) and OF Jackson Merrill (.509). RHP Mason Miller is using a string of 34⅔ straight scoreless innings, a franchise document.

 

Pitching matchups

Monday

Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (1-1, 5.79 ERA)   |   The 35-year-old veteran has a 22-to-3 strikeout to stroll ratio by way of three begins (14 IP). He missed three weeks with a biceps pressure. Boyd confronted the Padres twice within the common season final yr (1.59 ERA, 11⅓ IP) and as soon as within the NL Wild Card Collection at Wrigley Subject (4⅓ IP, 1 ER).

Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (2-0, 1.88 ERA)   |   The Padres have received all 5 of his begins, three of which have been high quality. Vásquez beat the Rockies at Coors Subject final week, placing out 5 over seven shutout innings with out a stroll. He has a 2.57 ERA in three profession begins in opposition to the Cubs. He walked seven in opposition to 4 strikeouts in two begins final yr (2.79 ERA).

Tuesday

Cubs RHP Edward Cabrera (2-0, 2.73 ERA)   |   The Cubs pried Cabrera from the Marlins over the offseason for former Padres draftee Owen Caissie and two minor leaguers. Cabrera is coming off a career-high 137 ⅔ innings final yr. Three of his 5 begins this yr have been high quality, however Cabrera allowed 5 runs — three earned — in seven innings final week in opposition to the Phillies. Cabrera has an 0.54 ERA in three profession begins in opposition to the Padres, together with one run in 5⅔ innings in a win final yr.

Padres RHP Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.75 ERA)   |   He tied a season-high with three walks whereas lasting simply 2⅔ innings (4 ER) in his final begin at Coors Subject. His two strikeouts in that loss had been a season low. Buehler has a 4.54 ERA in 37⅔ innings (7 video games, 6 begins) in his profession in opposition to the Cubs. He final confronted them in 2024 (5 IP, 5 ER).

Wednesday

Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (1-1, 4.55 ERA)   |   He’s gone six innings in three of his 5 begins up to now this season, however he has a 5.73 ERA in two highway begins. Taillon has a 2.40 ERA in 5 regular-season begins in opposition to the Padres. He additionally began final yr’s decisive Sport 3 within the NL Wild Card Collection with 4 shutout innings.

Padres RHP Matt Waldron (0-1, 12.46 ERA)   |   He has allowed 16 hits, together with two residence runs, by way of his first two begins (8 ⅔ innings. Waldron has thrown his knuckleball 31.3% of the time up to now and is permitting a .500 batting common and a .929 slugging proportion off the pitch. That is Waldron’s first profession begin in opposition to the Cubs.

 

2026 workforce leaders

• OPS: Cubs—2B Nico Hoerner (.856), OF Ian Happ (.830), SS Dansby Swanson (.740); Padres—SS Xander Bogaerts (.781), OF Ramón Laureano (.777), 1B Gavin Sheets (.710).
• HRs: Cubs—Happ (7), Swanson (6), 4 tied with 3; Padres—Bogaerts (4), Laureano (4), 3B Manny Machado (4).
• RBIs: Cubs—Hoerner (23), Swanson (21), Happ (14); Padres—Laureano (18), Bogaerts (16), Machado (16).
• Steals: Cubs—Hoerner (7), OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (2), OF Matt Shaw (2); Padres—OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (6), OF Jackson Merrill (5), two tied with 3.
• Saves: Cubs—LHP Caleb Thielbar (2-for-3, 3.12 ERA), three tied with 1; Padres—RHP Mason Miller (10-for-10, 0.00 ERA).
• Holds: Cubs—LHP Hoby Milner (2, 2.70 ERA), RHP Ben Brown (1, 2.37 ERA), Thielbar (1); Padres—RHP Jason Adam (5, 1.59 ERA), LHP Kyle Hart (4, 4.91 ERA), LHP Adrián Morejón (4, 5.93 ERA).

 

Coaching room

Chicago: The Cubs bullpen is coping with quite a few accidents, led by nearer (laDaniel Palencia t pressure). Chicago can be with out LHP Riley Martín (elbow), RHP Phil Maton (knee), LHP Caleb Thielbar (hamstring), RHP Hunter Harvey (triceps), LHP Jordan Wicks (forearm), RHP Ethan Roberts (finger), RHP Shelby Miller (elbow) and RHP Porter Hodge (flexor). RHP Cade Horton (UCL) is completed for the yr, whereas LHP Justin Steele (elbow) may return from final yr’s surgical procedure within the first half of the season.

San Diego: RHP Jeremiah Esterada (elbow) is rehabbing at low Single-A Lake Elsinore, whereas RHP Griffin Canning (Achilles) has made 4 rehab begins at Triple-A El Paso. LHP Yuki Matsui (groin) can be rehabbing with El Paso. RHP Nick Pivetta (elbow) continues to be in a relaxation and rehab mode, whereas RHP Joe Musgrove (Tommy John) has not returned to the mound since his spring coaching setback.