Padres Set for Weekend Matchup Against Cubs
The San Diego Padres (7-1) are gearing up for their second game of the series against the Chicago Cubs (6-4) on Saturday morning at 11:20 a.m. The matchup comes after both teams suffered their first losses of the season, with the Padres falling to the Dodgers and the Cubs also experiencing defeat.
Lineup Insights
In an effort to counter the Cubs’ left-handed starter, the Padres will maintain the same lineup from Friday’s game, with one notable adjustment: Elias Díaz will take the place of Martín Maldonado behind the plate. This decision marks a strategic move as Díaz steps in to face left-handed pitching.
Notably, Yuli Gurriel will make his fourth start of the season as the designated hitter, bringing notable experience against left-handed pitchers into the mix.
- Gurriel has a career .273/.327/.448 hitting line against left-handed pitchers, compared to Gavin Sheets’ .167/.215/.241.
- Despite a slow start this season, Gurriel’s lone hit was a significant pinch-hit single in a game against the Braves, emphasizing his potential impact.
Key Player Performances
Padres’ Brandon Lockridge stands out as one of the team’s most productive hitters early in the season, sporting a 229 OPS-plus over a limited number of plate appearances. He is slated to start in left field, replacing veteran Jason Heyward, owing to his recent performance which includes two doubles and an RBI.
Meanwhile, Luis Arraez and Jake Cronenworth, both starting, will add depth to the lineup despite their struggles at the plate thus far. Arraez holds a .129 average early in the season while Cronenworth is performing slightly better with a .261 average.
Pitching Matchup
Padres Starter: Nick Pivetta
The Padres will turn to right-hander Nick Pivetta, who is making waves with a 0.00 ERA in his debut season with the team. He recently struck out four batters and allowed just one hit over seven shutout innings.
Pivetta has faced the Cubs four times in his career, recording a 3.94 ERA, though he hasn’t pitched against them since 2019.
Cubs Starter: Matt Boyd
For the Cubs, Matt Boyd will take the mound. Coming off a solid season with the Guardians where he had a 2.72 ERA post-surgery, Boyd has yet to allow a run this season, with five strikeouts in his first outing.
This game marks Boyd’s first encounter with the Padres, adding an intriguing element to the matchup.
