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The San Diego Padres invade Wrigley Field on Monday to take on the Chicago Cubs, who are coming off a series win over the first-place Milwaukee Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cubs have yet to lose a home series this season after taking two of three from the Brewers, capped off by Sunday’s 5-0 shutout.
Nico Hoerner’s two-run double in the fifth inning broke a scoreless tie to help Chicago improve to 4-1 in series finales this season.
The Padres saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt in Sunday’s 11-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.
San Diego has won consecutive series since getting swept at home by Philadelphia. Despite being under .500, the Padres (18-19) sit in second place in the National League West.
Yu Darvish faces his former team for the second time this season as the San Diego right-hander hopes this start turns out better than the last meeting with Chicago.
Darvish allowed four runs in three innings on April 8 against the Cubs, who jumped out to an 8-0 lead. However, San Diego rallied back with nine runs, including seven in the sixth inning, en route to a 9-8 victory to get Darvish off the hook.
The veteran returned from an IL stint to toss five scoreless innings against Cincinnati in his last start. The Padres are 4-2 in Darvish’s six appearances this season.
The Cubs counter with left-hander Justin Steele, who is making his first start since the season opener. Steele came within one out of completing five innings at Texas on March 28 as he struck out six batters in a 4-3 loss.
The southpaw sustained a hamstring strain in that outing, keeping him sidelined for several weeks before making a few rehab starts in the minors.
Steele shut down the Padres last season at Wrigley Field by scattering three hits in 5.1 innings.
In their last 16 games, the Padres have faced just one team with a winning record — the Phillies, who swept the three-game series.
Darvish should post a better showing on Monday against the Cubs, but if Steele can put together the numbers he did last season, that will help solidify this Chicago starting rotation.
Let’s take the Cubs in what the sportsbooks are essentially calling a pick-’em game.
Pick: Cubs moneyline (-105 at bet365)
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