{"id":28905,"date":"2026-04-28T01:01:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T01:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/?p=28905"},"modified":"2026-04-28T01:01:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T01:01:16","slug":"nl-wild-card-series-rematch-with-the-cubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/?p=28905","title":{"rendered":"NL Wild Card Series rematch with the Cubs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<h4>Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Game 1:<\/strong> 6:40 p.m. Monday (Padres.TV)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Game 2:<\/strong> 6:40 p.m. Tuesday (Padres.TV)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Game 3:<\/strong> 1:10 p.m. Wednesday (Padres.TV)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h4>In the standings<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Chicago Cubs (17-11, 2nd in NL Central)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Cubs had won 10 in a row before losing their last two games at Dodger Stadium. They remain a game behind the Reds in the NL Central, while their plus-31 run differential is fourth best in the majors. Chicago split its six games against the Padres last year, but Chicago bounced the Padres in three games in the NL Wild Card Series.<\/p>\n<p><strong>San Diego Padres (18-9, 2nd in NL West)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Padres had won six straight series before losing a lead in the seventh inning on Sunday in Mexico City as they settled for a split with Arizona. The Padres went 5-3 on the road trip through Anaheim (2-1), Colorado (2-1) and Mexico City to play Arizona (1-1). The Padres\u2019 plus-12 run differential is seventh best in the majors. Their record is third best, behind the Braves (20-9) and the Dodgers (19-9).<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h4>Trending<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Chicago:<\/strong> The Cubs are hitting .291\/.379\/.489 over the last week, with OF<strong> Seiya Suzuki<\/strong> (1.183 OPS) accounting for four of the team\u2019s 13 homers over that stretch. 1B<strong> Michael Busch<\/strong> (.881 OPS) and SS <strong>Dansby Swanson<\/strong> (.734 OPS) both have two home runs in the last week. Rookie<strong> Moises Ballesteros<\/strong> DH Moises Ballesteros is hitting .438\/.526\/.875 over the last week. LHP <strong>Hoby Milner<\/strong> (2.70 ERA) leads the team with 13 appearances on the season, followed by 12 from RHP<strong> Jacob Webb<\/strong> (4.66 ERA).<\/p>\n<p><strong>San Diego:<\/strong> The Padres played five straight games in elevation, but only two regulars had an OPS over .570 in Colorado and Mexico City: SS<strong> Xander Bogaerts<\/strong> (.929) and 3B<strong> Manny Machado<\/strong>, who homered twice on Sunday to push his OPS to .889. On the flip side, five Padres finished that portion of the trip under .600: 2B<strong> Jake Cronenworth<\/strong> (.568), OF <strong>Ram\u00f3n Laureano<\/strong> (.566), OF <strong>Fernando Tatis Jr.<\/strong> (.542), 1B <strong>Gavin Sheets<\/strong> (.529) and OF<strong> Jackson Merrill<\/strong> (.509). RHP <strong>Mason Miller<\/strong> is riding a string of 34\u2154 straight scoreless innings, a franchise record.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9687904\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone size-article_inline\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Erin Hooley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4>Pitching matchups<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Monday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (1-1, 5.79 ERA)\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong> The 35-year-old veteran has a 22-to-3 strikeout to walk ratio through three starts (14 IP). He missed three weeks with a biceps strain. Boyd faced the Padres twice in the regular season last year (1.59 ERA, 11\u2153 IP) and once in the NL Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field (4\u2153 IP, 1 ER).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Padres RHP Randy V\u00e1squez (2-0, 1.88 ERA)\u00a0\u00a0 |<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 The Padres have won all five of his starts, three of which have been quality. V\u00e1squez beat the Rockies at Coors Field last week, striking out five over seven shutout innings without a walk. He has a 2.57 ERA in three career starts against the Cubs. He walked seven against four strikeouts in two starts last year (2.79 ERA).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tuesday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Cubs RHP Edward Cabrera (2-0, 2.73 ERA)\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 The Cubs pried Cabrera from the Marlins over the offseason for former Padres draftee Owen Caissie and two minor leaguers. Cabrera is coming off a career-high 137 \u2154 innings last year. Three of his five starts this year have been quality, but Cabrera allowed five runs \u2014 three earned \u2014 in seven innings last week against the Phillies. Cabrera has an 0.54 ERA in three career starts against the Padres, including one run in 5\u2154 innings in a win last year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Padres RHP Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.75 ERA)\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 He tied a season-high with three walks while lasting just 2\u2154 innings (4 ER) in his last start at Coors Field. His two strikeouts in that loss were a season low. Buehler has a 4.54 ERA in 37\u2154 innings (7 games, 6 starts) in his career against the Cubs. He last faced them in 2024 (5 IP, 5 ER).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wednesday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (1-1, 4.55 ERA)\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong> He\u2019s gone six innings in three of his five starts so far this season, but he has a 5.73 ERA in two road starts. Taillon has a 2.40 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Padres. He also started last year\u2019s decisive Game 3 in the NL Wild Card Series with four shutout innings.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Padres RHP Matt Waldron (0-1, 12.46 ERA)\u00a0\u00a0 |\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0 He has allowed 16 hits, including two home runs, through his first two starts (8 \u2154 innings. Waldron has thrown his knuckleball 31.3% of the time so far and is allowing a .500 batting average and a .929 slugging percentage off the pitch. This is Waldron\u2019s first career start against the Cubs.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h4>2026 team leaders<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>OPS: Cubs<\/strong>\u20142B Nico Hoerner (.856), OF Ian Happ (.830), SS Dansby Swanson (.740); <strong>Padres<\/strong>\u2014SS Xander Bogaerts (.781), OF Ram\u00f3n Laureano (.777), 1B Gavin Sheets (.710).<\/li>\n<li><strong>HRs: Cubs<\/strong>\u2014Happ (7), Swanson (6), four tied with 3; <strong>Padres<\/strong>\u2014Bogaerts (4), Laureano (4), 3B Manny Machado (4).<\/li>\n<li><strong>RBIs: Cubs<\/strong>\u2014Hoerner (23), Swanson (21), Happ (14); <strong>Padres<\/strong>\u2014Laureano (18), Bogaerts (16), Machado (16).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Steals: Cubs<\/strong>\u2014Hoerner (7), OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (2), OF Matt Shaw (2); <strong>Padres<\/strong>\u2014OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (6), OF Jackson Merrill (5), two tied with 3.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saves: Cubs<\/strong>\u2014LHP Caleb Thielbar (2-for-3, 3.12 ERA), three tied with 1; <strong>Padres<\/strong>\u2014RHP Mason Miller (10-for-10, 0.00 ERA).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Holds: Cubs<\/strong>\u2014LHP Hoby Milner (2, 2.70 ERA), RHP Ben Brown (1, 2.37 ERA), Thielbar (1); <strong>Padres<\/strong>\u2014RHP Jason Adam (5, 1.59 ERA), LHP Kyle Hart (4, 4.91 ERA), LHP Adri\u00e1n Morej\u00f3n (4, 5.93 ERA).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h4>Training room<\/h4>\n<p><strong>Chicago:<\/strong> The Cubs bullpen is dealing with a number of injuries, led by closer (la<strong>Daniel Palencia<\/strong>\u00a0t strain). Chicago is also without LHP <strong>Riley Mart\u00edn<\/strong> (elbow), RHP <strong>Phil Maton<\/strong> (knee), LHP<strong> Caleb Thielbar<\/strong> (hamstring), RHP <strong>Hunter Harvey<\/strong> (triceps), LHP<strong> Jordan Wicks<\/strong> (forearm), RHP<strong> Ethan Roberts<\/strong> (finger), RHP<strong> Shelby Miller<\/strong> (elbow) and RHP <strong>Porter Hodge<\/strong> (flexor). RHP<strong> Cade Horton<\/strong> (UCL) is done for the year, while LHP <strong>Justin Steele<\/strong> (elbow) could return from last year\u2019s surgery in the first half of the season.<\/p>\n<p><strong>San Diego:<\/strong> RHP<strong> Jeremiah Esterada<\/strong> (elbow) is rehabbing at low Single-A Lake Elsinore, while RHP <strong>Griffin Canning<\/strong> (Achilles) has made four rehab starts at Triple-A El Paso. LHP <strong>Yuki Matsui<\/strong> (groin) is also rehabbing with El Paso. RHP <strong>Nick Pivetta<\/strong> (elbow) is still in a rest and rehab mode, while RHP<strong> Joe Musgrove<\/strong> (Tommy John) has not returned to the mound since his spring training setback.\n            <\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sandiegouniontribune.com\/2026\/04\/27\/padres-on-deck-nl-wild-card-series-rematch-with-the-cubs\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres Game 1: 6:40 p.m. Monday (Padres.TV) Game 2: 6:40 p.m. Tuesday (Padres.TV) Game 3: 1:10 p.m. Wednesday (Padres.TV) \u00a0 In the standings Chicago Cubs (17-11, 2nd in NL Central) The Cubs had won 10 in a row before losing their last two games at Dodger Stadium. They remain a &#8230; <a title=\"NL Wild Card Series rematch with the Cubs\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/?p=28905\" aria-label=\"Read more about NL Wild Card Series rematch with the Cubs\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/NL-Wild-Card-Series-rematch-with-the-Cubs.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28905"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28907,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28905\/revisions\/28907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}