AT SAN DIEGO: This is the Cubs\u2019 86th series at San Diego since the Padres joined the National League in 1969. It is the 42nd in which the Cubs lost the first game. They won the second game 14 times and lost it 27 times. (Courtesy BCB\u2019s JohnW53)<\/p>\n
MORE FROM SAN DIEGO: Last night\u2019s game was the Cubs\u2019 263rd at San Diego. It was the 19th in which they scored exactly seven runs. They had won each of the previous 18, most recently by 7-1 in 2021, 7-5 in 2022 and 7-1 in 2023. The Cubs are 21-4 at home when they have scored seven runs vs. the Padres, making their overall record in seven-run games 39-5. (Courtesy BCB\u2019s JohnW53)<\/p>\n
MO BALLER: Moises Ballesteros\u2019 career OPS stands at 1.011. That is the highest, by 45 points, among the 44 players who debuted as Cubs since 1901 and through 45 games had at least 135 plate appearances, Ballesteros\u2019 numbers. Ray Grimes is second, at .966. His 45 games were in 1921. Bob Speake is third, at .945 in 1955. The highest since then is .925, by Matt Murton<\/a> in 2005, then .909 by Kyle Schwarber<\/a> in 2015 and .897 by Ian Happ<\/a> in 2017. (Courtesy BCB\u2019s JohnW53)<\/p>\n Cubs lineup:<\/p>\n Padres lineup:<\/p>\n Edward Cabrera<\/a>, RHP vs. Walker Buehler<\/a>, RHP Edward Cabrera\u2019s Cubs career has started out well. He\u2019s allowed no more than three earned runs in any of his five starts (two unearned runs last Thursday helped force extras), and he\u2019s allowed just two home runs in 29.2 innings.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n His K rate is down a bit from last year, but as long as the team is getting results (they\u2019ve won four of the five games he\u2019s started), I\u2019m not going to quibble with that.<\/p>\n The last time he faced the Padres, July 22, 2025 at Miami<\/a>, he allowed one run in 5.2 innings, with no walks and six strikeouts. The Cubs probably need him to go a bit longer tonight, what with the current bullpen issues.<\/p>\n Walker Buehler was once one of the top starters in MLB, but injuries have pretty much ruined that. At age 31 he\u2019s a reclamation project for the Padres, and it is not going well: 5.75 ERA, 1.623 WHIP in 20.1 innings over five starts. One of those starts was six scoreless vs. the Rockies<\/a>. In the other four: 8.16 ERA, nine walks in 14.1 innings.<\/p>\n The last time he faced the Cubs was Sept. 9, 2024 in Los Angeles<\/a>. He allowed nine hits and five runs in five innings. Michael Conforto<\/a> has homered twice off him in 11 career at-bats.<\/p>\n Here is the weather forecast for the area around Petco Park.<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Today\u2019s game is on Marquee Sports Network. It\u2019s also on MLB Network (outside the Cubs and Padres market territories).<\/p>\n Here is the compl<\/a>e<\/a>te MLB.com live streaming page for today.<\/a><\/p>\n MLB.com Gameday<\/a><\/p>\n Baseball-reference.com game preview<\/a><\/p>\n Please visit our SB Nation Padres site\u00a0Gaslamp Ball<\/a>. If you do go there to interact with Padres fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.<\/p>\n The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled \u201cCubs vs. (Team) (Day of week\/date) game threads.\u201d It will contain every post related to that particular game.<\/p>\n The Live! (formerly \u201cFirst Pitch\u201d) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.<\/p>\n You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in\u00a0this section link<\/a>. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.<\/p>\n Discuss amongst yourselves.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Join the conversation!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4577eed17a88bc297f9293d535cbf3cf.jpeg\"\/)
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