Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres preview, Saturday 7/20, 1:20 CT

Saturday notes:

• Through Friday, the Cubs are averaging 5.1 runs per game, a pace for 827 runs this season. That would be the most since 2008 and the third-most since 1930. The Cubs currently rank fifth in the N.L. in runs and runs per game, and fourth in runs allowed and runs allowed per game.
• The Cubs have a 3.29 ERA at Wrigley Field this year, the second-best home record in that category in baseball. Only the Dodgers (2.64) are better.
• The Cubs have hit 154 home runs this year, including two in Friday’s game. They are on pace for 257 home runs, which would break the team record of 235 set in 2004. The 154 homers rank third in the N.L. behind the Dodgers (167) and Brewers (166).
• Jason Heyward, 20 games since June 22: .378/.418/.703 (28-for-74) with seven doubles, a triple, five home runs, 17 RBI and 12 runs scored.
• Anthony Rizzo has an 18-game on-base streak in which he is hitting .354/.456/.554 (23-for-65) with eight doubles, a triple, a home run, 10 walks and 15 runs scored.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Padres lineup:

Jose Quintana, LHP vs. Joey Lucchesi, LHP

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe, just maybe, Jose Quintana has turned the corner. Last three starts: 2.84 ERA, 1.105 WHIP, just three walks and no home runs allowed in 19 innings.

His only start against the Padres last year, August 3, 2018 at Wrigley Field, was a good one: six innings, four hits, one run, no walks, six strikeouts.

Two members of the Padres have a lot of history with Q from their time in the A.L.: Eric Hosmer (.183/.200/.310, 13-for-71) and Ian Kinsler (.313/.340/.479, 15-for-48).

Joey Lucchesi had a pretty good outing vs. the Cubs August 5, 2018 at Wrigley Field, striking out nine in 5⅔ innings and allowing just two runs, his only career start against the Cubs.

He’s having a pretty good 2019, though I want to point out that he’s been much better in San Diego (2.83 ERA in 11 starts covering 62⅔ innings) than on the road (5.79 ERA in seven starts covering 37⅓ innings). So perhaps that will work to the Cubs’ advantage this afternoon.

Today’s game is on ABC7 Chicago.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation 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 2019 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used in previous years. 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.