Nico Hoerner will be looking to extend his 21-game on-base streak as the Chicago Cubs (13-10) host the San Diego Padres (13-13) at Wrigley Field on Thursday with the three-game series in the balance.
The Padres leveled the series 1-1 after winning 5-3 on Wednesday. Nick Martinez got the win with three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, and Josh Hader picked up his ninth save with a scoreless ninth. Ha-Seong Kim was 2 for 3 with two runs in the win. Trey Mancini went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Cubs.
ON THE MOUND
Seth Lugo (2-1, 2.78 ERA) is slated to start for San Diego. The RHP allowed two runs over six innings in his last start, a 9-0 home defeat against the Diamondbacks on Friday. He took the loss, yielding six hits while striking out six and walking one. Lugo is making his first appearance against the Cubs this season.
Over three appearances (zero starts) against the Cubs in 2022, Lugo was 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA over 2.1 innings. He had three strikeouts and one walk.For Chicago, RHP Hayden Wesneski (1-1, 6.23 ERA) takes the mound.
It’s his first appearance of the season against the Padres. In his last start on Saturday, Wesneski took the loss at home against the Dodgers. He threw 4.1 innings and gave up three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking one in the 9-4 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, San Diego has averaged 3.4 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 3.7. Against right-handed pitchers like Wesneski this season, the Padres have a .663 OPS. Xander Bogaerts is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a 1.186 OPS in 56 at-bats.
Chicago is averaging 5.8 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 5.7 for the season. The Cubs have a .783 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .596 slugging percentage over 56 at-bats, Patrick Wisdom has been their best power hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
San Diego is 8-5 in away games in 2023, scoring 4.2 runs per game while allowing 4.4 runs. Chicago has gone 7-8 at their home park this season, averaging 4.9 runs per game while surrendering 4.4. In the last 10 games between the teams at Wrigley Field, San Diego is 6-4 with an average scoreline of 5.7-4.2.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Padres are third in the NL West, one games behind the division-leading Diamondbacks. The Cubs are third in the NL Central, three games behind the Pirates.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
SD Padres (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
