The Chicago Cubs (25-31) are on the road to face the San Diego Padres (26-31) at Petco Park on Saturday. The Cubs took Friday’s series opener 2-1, their third head-to-head victory in four games this season.
Starter Jameson Taillon went 5.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits, to get the win, and Mark Leiter Jr. struck out the side in the ninth to earn his third save.
Dansby Swanson was 3 for 4 with a solo home run in the win. Rougned Odor went 2 for 3 with a double and one run for the Padres.
ON THE MOUND
Drew Smyly (5-2, 3.45 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Chicago. The lefty allowed five runs over 4.2 innings in his last start, an 8-5 road defeat against the Reds on Sunday. He took the loss, scattering seven hits while striking out two and walking two.
Smyly has made one previous start against the Padres this season, a 5-3 home loss on April 26. He surrendered two runs on four hits over five innings, striking out four and walking one.
For San Diego, right-hander Yu Darvish (3-4, 4.61 ERA) will toe the rubber. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Cubs. Darvish made one start against the Cubs in 2022, throwing eight innings in a 4-1 road win on June 13.
He gave up five hits while striking out seven in the win. In his last start on Sunday, Darvish took the loss on the road against the Yankees. He threw 2.2 innings and gave up seven runs on seven hits, striking out two, in the 10-7 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Chicago has averaged only 2.6 runs a game, down from their season average of 4.5, while performing worse across the board (.197/.287/.296). Against right-handed pitchers like Darvish this season, the Cubs have a .721 OPS.
Ian Happ is the team’s best performer against right-handers with a .856 OPS in 152 at-bats. San Diego is averaging 5.6 runs per game in the last five, up from 4.1 for the season.
The Padres have a .740 OPS against left-handers in 2023. With a .949 OPS over 44 at-bats, Trent Grisham has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Chicago is 10-15 in road games in 2023, scoring 4.6 runs per game while allowing 4.4 runs. San Diego has gone 12-16 at their home park this season, averaging 3.9 runs per game while surrendering 3.9. In the last 10 games between the teams at Petco Park, Chicago is 6-4 with an average scoreline of 4.5-3.6.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Cubs are fourth in the NL Central, four games behind the division-leading Brewers. The Padres are fourth in the NL West, eight games behind the Dodgers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
SD Padres (-175)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
