Let's try this again, shall we? Here's the WGN weather radar, which looks mostly clear as of now:
The National Weather Service forecast shows only a small chance of rain this evening. So -- hopefully, we'll get this one in without any delays.
Here are today's particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Fowler CF, Heyward RF, Bryant LF, Rizzo 1B, Zobrist 2B, Baez 3B, Russell SS, Ross C, Lester P
Here is tonight's #Cubs lineup against the #Padres.
— #VoteCubs (@Cubs) May 10, 2016
Game preview: https://t.co/wRwLSodRh7 #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/Uh34TE2zVs
Padres lineup:
Jay CF, Myers 1B, Kemp RF, Norris C, Upton LF, Wallace 3B, Pirela 2B, Ramirez SS, Vargas P
Jon Lester
vs
Cesar Vargas
I know you read these pitcher previews yesterday. Since the pitching matchup remains the same, you get to read them again!
Jon Lester has been really, really good this year, almost as good as Jake Arrieta, and that's saying something. Last year he faced the Padres just once, April 19 at Wrigley Field, and got victimized by a home run by a former teammate, Will Middlebrooks. Middlebrooks isn't with the Padres anymore, and current Padres are hitting .207 (28-for-135) against him with four home runs, two by Melvin Upton Jr.
The Padres signed Cesar Vargas as a six-year minor-league free agent after the 2015 season. His minor-league record was decent, but nothing special, and certainly nothing that would have predicted that he would make three big-league starts and allow just two earned runs. He has walked nine batters in 16⅓ innings, though -- this might be something the Cubs could take advantage of. He has obviously never faced the Cubs or anyone on the current Cubs roster.
Today's game is on WPWR. If you live in the blackout area, check your local listings for the channel in your area. It's also on 670 The Score and Sirius/XM 187.
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Padres site Gaslamp Ball. If you do go there to interact with Padres fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2016 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used at the end of 2015. Here's how it works.
You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream™ containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.
You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream™ as noted above.
The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.
Discuss amongst yourselves.