Preview: Padres at Cubs
Gracenote
Aug 3, 2018
The Chicago Cubs hope their most recent offensive outage was simply a blip, and they’ll try to get their bats going again Friday in the second contest of their four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres. It’s the second of seven straight contests against last-place teams for the Cubs, who have a prime opportunity to cushion their slim lead in the National League Central.
The Padres posted a 6-1 victory in the series opener as five pitchers held the Cubs to three hits and Austin Hedges belted a three-run homer. The win snapped a seven-game skid and was just the third in 17 contests for San Diego, which owns the worst record in the NL. The Cubs have been streaky at the plate all season, and they currently are without slugger Kris Bryant (shoulder). Chicago has lost four of its last six games and scored fewer than three runs six times in its last 10 contests.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS San Diego, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tyson Ross (6-8, 4.41 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (9-7, 4.26)
Ross was considered a potential trade candidate, but the Padres elected to keep him in the fold as the non-waiver deadline came and went. The 31-year-old sported a 3.32 ERA at the end of June, but it rose considerably after he pitched to an 8.87 mark in five turns last month. Ross is 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA in four career games (three starts) against the Cubs.
Quintana had a stretch of three straight quality starts – all wins – before he was tagged for six runs over three innings in a loss at St. Louis last time out. The 29-year-old struggled with his command early and needed 51 pitches to get through the opening frame. Quintana made his only career appearance against the Padres last season, when he allowed three runs over seven innings in a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs had homered in a season-high six consecutive games before being held without an extra-base hit on Thursday.
2. Padres 1B Eric Hosmer is 11-for-33 during his season-best nine-game hitting streak.
3. San Diego LF Wil Myers left Thursday’s game with a bruised left foot after fouling off a pitch.
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Padres 3
Gracenote
Aug 3, 2018
The Chicago Cubs hope their most recent offensive outage was simply a blip, and they’ll try to get their bats going again Friday in the second contest of their four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres. It’s the second of seven straight contests against last-place teams for the Cubs, who have a prime opportunity to cushion their slim lead in the National League Central.
The Padres posted a 6-1 victory in the series opener as five pitchers held the Cubs to three hits and Austin Hedges belted a three-run homer. The win snapped a seven-game skid and was just the third in 17 contests for San Diego, which owns the worst record in the NL. The Cubs have been streaky at the plate all season, and they currently are without slugger Kris Bryant (shoulder). Chicago has lost four of its last six games and scored fewer than three runs six times in its last 10 contests.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS San Diego, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tyson Ross (6-8, 4.41 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (9-7, 4.26)
Ross was considered a potential trade candidate, but the Padres elected to keep him in the fold as the non-waiver deadline came and went. The 31-year-old sported a 3.32 ERA at the end of June, but it rose considerably after he pitched to an 8.87 mark in five turns last month. Ross is 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA in four career games (three starts) against the Cubs.
Quintana had a stretch of three straight quality starts – all wins – before he was tagged for six runs over three innings in a loss at St. Louis last time out. The 29-year-old struggled with his command early and needed 51 pitches to get through the opening frame. Quintana made his only career appearance against the Padres last season, when he allowed three runs over seven innings in a no-decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs had homered in a season-high six consecutive games before being held without an extra-base hit on Thursday.
2. Padres 1B Eric Hosmer is 11-for-33 during his season-best nine-game hitting streak.
3. San Diego LF Wil Myers left Thursday’s game with a bruised left foot after fouling off a pitch.
PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Padres 3