On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Padres series preview

The Cubs took two of three from the Padres at Wrigley Field in July. It would seem that taking three of four, at a minimum, in this series would be what the Cubs would need to do to keep their current wild-card spot, or move up.

For more on the Padres, here’s Richard Wade of our SB Nation Padres site Gaslamp Ball.

The San Diego Padres dropped out of playoff contention in early August, and budding superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. was lost for the season shortly thereafter. Manny Machado has been scuffling since around the beginning of July. Second baseman Luis Urias, one of the top prospects from the vaunted Padres farm system has not been able to hit at the Major League level and there is already some rumblings that the team may already be growing impatient. Hunter Renfroe, who spent most of the first half of the season making fellow corner outfielder Franmil Reyes appear expendable, has fallen off the face of the earth at the plate. Centerfielder Manny Margot has toyed with the idea of looking like a player the Padres might be able to talk themselves into as a longterm option, but he still sits below 2-fWAR in September. The catcher situation is impossible to read with Francisco Mejia and Austin Hedges both alternating between looking like future stars and looking like guys who belong in Triple-A El Paso. There is a great deal of talent in the system and on the roster, but there is even more uncertainty.

On the pitching side of things, the Padres still have one of Major League Baseball’s most effective closers in Kirby Yates. They have a pair of useful starting pitchers in Joey Lucchesi and Chris Paddack. The latter of the two still looks like a potential ace, and the former seems like he should be able to be a mid-rotation option for years to come. Rookie Cal Quantrill has given some reasons for optimism as well. At this point, he looks like a possible starter or at the least a quality bullpen piece. And finally, Dinelson Lamet returned from injury and still shows the stuff that had people dreaming on him as a potential top of the rotation option before he got hurt.

Overall, the future still looks bright, but this season has provided less clarity than some may have hoped for.

Fun fact

The last time the Cubs played in Petco Park, they swept a three-game series, July 13-15, 2018, just before the All-Star break last year.

It would be nice if they could remember how to do that this week.

Pitching matchups

Monday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (9-9, 3.39 ERA, 1.104 WHIP, 3.84 FIP) vs. Cal Quantrill, RHP (6-6, 4.57 ERA, 1.224 WHIP, 4.14 FIP)

Tuesday: Jose Quintana, LHP (13-8, 4.00 ERA, 1.284 WHIP, 3.82 FIP) vs. Ronald Bolanos, RHP (0-1, 3.00 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, 2.88 FIP)

Wednesday: Cole Hamels, LHP (7-6, 3.95 ERA, 1.377 WHIP, 4.09 FIP) vs. Chris Paddack, RHP (8-7, 3.54 ERA, 1.018 WHIP, 4.12 FIP)

Thursday: Yu Darvish, RHP (5-6, 4.12 ERA, 1.131 WHIP, 4.58 FIP) vs. Dinelson Lamet, RHP (2-4, 3.95 ERA, 1.263 WHIP, 3.86 FIP)

Times & TV channels

Monday: 9:10 p.m. CT, WGN

Tuesday: 9:10 p.m. CT, NBC Sports Chicago Plus, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Padres market territories)

Wednesday: 9:10 p.m. CT, ABC7 Chicago, ESPN (outside Cubs and Padres market territories)

Thursday: 2:40 p.m. CT, NBC Sports Chicago

Prediction

The Padres have lost 11 of their last 18. The Cubs will keep that going by taking three of four.

Up next

The Cubs return home to Wrigley Field for the final homestand of 2019. It starts with a three-game series against the Pirates beginning Friday afternoon.