The Chicago Cubs venture west for a nine-game road trip starting Monday night in San Diego to face the Padres.
The Cubs captured two of three games at home this past weekend against the Los Angeles Dodgers, capped off by Sunday’s 8-1 blowout win. After dropping its first two contests of the season, Chicago has won six of its last seven games.
Can they continue that success in the West? Let’s take a closer look at Monday night’s matchup at Petco Park.
Cubs vs. Padres odds
Moneyline: Cubs +116, Padres -134
Runs line: Cubs +1.5 (-188), Padres -1.5 (+155)
Total: o7.5 (-108), u7.5 (-112)
Odds via FanDuel
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Cubs vs. Padres analysis: Prediction
The Padres return home after losing two of three games at San Francisco. The Giants rallied to top San Diego on Sunday, 3-2, but the Padres have limited their last four opponents to fewer than four runs.
Yu Darvish takes the mound for the Padres Monday night, facing the team he pitched for from 2018-20. Making his fourth start of the season already, Darvish tossed seven innings and allowed three runs in his last outing — a 5-2 loss to St. Louis.
Countering for Chicago is RHP Javier Assad, who is coming off a solid start against Colorado. Assad scattered four hits in six scoreless innings of a 12-2 rout of the Rockies.
The Cubs won three of Assad’s five road starts in 2023, which included a 3-1-1 mark in the first five innings. In four of those five away outings, Assad gave up on run or less in the first five innings.
On the flip side, the Padres have excelled in the first five innings this season at 9-3, including a 3-0 mark from Darvish.
Since facing the Dodgers in the opening series in South Korea, the Padres have faced the Giants and Cardinals in the last 10 games, going 4-6.
Let’s back the Cubs in the first five innings tonight for a strong start behind Assad.
Cubs vs. Padres pick
Pick: Cubs ML first five innings (+114, FanDuel)
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