On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Padres series preview

Once again, the schedule-makers have squeezed an entire season series between the Cubs and another team into a 10-day period, much as they did with the Cubs and Braves in April.

Unlike that early-season series — which wound up 5-2 in favor of Atlanta — the Cubs already lead this one 3-0 after the sweep in Chicago last week.

Since that series last week at Wrigley Field, you know the Cubs lost three of four to the Giants in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, the Padres were splitting a four-game series at Petco Park against the Mets. The teams traded shutouts — the Padres winning 2-0 behind Blake Snell and the Mets winning 4-0 behind Jacob deGrom — but overall the Padres scored just eight runs in the four-game set and they’re in a bit of a scoring drought. San Diego has scored only 18 runs in eight games since May 30 and has gone 2-6 in those eight games.

Hopefully, the Cubs pitching staff can continue holding the Padres offense down.

Over the same eight dates, the Cubs are 4-4 and have scored 32 runs, so at least the offense is doing its part.

Fun fact

Last week’s sweep of the Padres in Chicago was the first sweep by the Cubs of the Padres at Wrigley since 2012.

Probable pitching matchups

Monday: Adbert Alzolay, RHP (4-4, 3.62 ERA, 0.915 WHIP, 3.62 FIP) vs. Ryan Weathers, LHP (2-2, 2.06 ERA, 0.992 WHIP, 4.31 FIP)

Tuesday: Zach Davies, RHP (2-3, 4.94 ERA, 1.683 WHIP, 4.69 FIP) vs. Dinelson Lamet, RHP (1-0, 2.50 ERA, 1.444 WHIP, 2.69 FIP)

Wednesday: Jake Arrieta, RHP (5-6, 5.26 ERA, 1.491 WHIP, 5.67 FIP) vs. Yu Darvish, RHP (6-1, 2.25 ERA, 0.931 WHIP, 3.07 FIP)

Too bad, we won’t get the Davies vs. Darvish matchup that would have featured pitchers traded for each other, but Arrieta vs. Darvish ought to be interesting.

Times & TV channels

Monday: 9:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, ESPN (outside Cubs and Padres market territories)

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

Wednesday: 3:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Prediction

This will not be easy. The Cubs have had a rough time on the road, and the Padres won 12 straight home games before dropping the final two of their series to the Mets at Petco over the weekend.

However, the Cubs did well against Weathers and Lamet at Wrigley Field last week and even if they get dominated by Darvish, I think they can take two of three here.

Up next

The Cubs have Thursday off, then it’ll be the first 2021 Wrigley Field visit by the Cardinals, a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon.