Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

May 9, 2022 9:27 am

Schedule continues to benefit Padres; skidding Cubs next

The San Diego Padres have benefited from excellent starting pitching and some top-of-the league hitting from corner infielders Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer in jumping to a 19-10 start.

They’ve also gotten a clutch hit here and there, such as the three-run, two-out, pinch-hit homer from Jorge Alfaro on Sunday that turned what appeared to be a second straight shutout loss into a 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins.

But what San Diego has benefited from most through almost the first fifth of the season is the schedule.

The Padres have faced only three teams with winning records — the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks — and they are 5-5 against those National League West rivals.

Against everyone else, the Padres are 14-5. They already have completed their season series against the hapless Cincinnati Reds with a 6-0 sweep.This past weekend, the Padres took three of four from the Marlins despite being outscored 13-8. Miami entered the series with a four-game losing streak.

On Monday night, the Chicago Cubs will play in San Diego with a five-game losing streak. The only team beneath the Cubs in the National League Central is Cincinnati.

Plus, the Cubs have holes in their rotation. Marcus Stroman was placed on the injured list Sunday just before he was scheduled to pitch against the Dodgers. Justin Steele, who was scheduled to open the three-game series against the Padres on Monday night, was pushed up a day and started Sunday, but he left the game before the start of the fifth with thumb soreness.

Right-hander Kyle Hendricks (1-3, 5.64 ERA) will npw start Monday’s game against Padres left-handed rookie MacKenzie Gore (2-0, 1.71).

The Cubs haven’t named starters for the second and third games, while the Padres are working with a six-man rotation due to a surplus of starting pitchers.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said recently of the six-man rotation. “No one has ever complained about have too many starting pitchers. Other teams would love to be in the position we are right now.”

Like … the Cubs, who beyond the five straight losses have lost eight of their last nine games and have gone 3-14 since opening the season 6-4.

“We have a long ways to go; there’s no sense in getting frustrated right now,” Cubs manager David Ross said after Sunday night’s loss to the Dodgers on national television. “These guys are having good at-bats and hitting the ball hard. I see the effort. These guys are giving their all.”

But there is a ray of hope for the Cubs on Monday.

While Gore has never faced the Cubs, Hendricks has had success during his career against the Padres. He has a 7-2 lifetime record against them in 11 starts, with a 3.00 ERA in 69 innings.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

connor joe
Feb 7, 2025 8:52 pm

Reports: Padres on verge of signing veteran OF/1B Connor Joe

The San Diego Padres are closing in on a deal with free agent outfielder/first baseman Connor Joe, according to multiple reports on Friday. Joe, 32, could help fill the club’s…

trey mancini
Feb 7, 2025 8:34 pm

Reports: 1B/OF Trey Mancini joining D-backs on minor league deal

Trey Mancini launched his attempt at another comeback on Friday by signing a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per multiple reports. The deal includes an invitation to spring…

Brandon Drury
Feb 7, 2025 7:33 pm

White Sox add Brandon Drury on minor league deal

The Chicago White Sox agreed to terms on a minor league contract with veteran Brandon Drury on Friday and invited him to major league spring training. Drury, 32, has played…

More Baseball News

connor joe
Feb 7, 2025 8:52 pm

Reports: Padres on verge of signing veteran OF/1B Connor Joe

The San Diego Padres are closing in on a deal with free agent outfielder/first baseman Connor Joe, according to multiple reports on Friday. Joe, 32, could help fill the club’s…

trey mancini
Feb 7, 2025 8:34 pm

Reports: 1B/OF Trey Mancini joining D-backs on minor league deal

Brandon Drury
Feb 7, 2025 7:33 pm

White Sox add Brandon Drury on minor league deal

Steinbrenner Field general view
Feb 7, 2025 2:31 pm

MLB commish on Rays’ stadium issues: ‘It is challenging’

mizuhara, Ohtani
Feb 7, 2025 12:44 am

Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter gets 57-month sentence

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds