This is a Wild Card matchup between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres, starting tomorrow at 11:00 AM Korea time. The contrasting form of the two teams could have a major impact on how the game unfolds.
In the head-to-head record, the Chicago Cubs have the edge, winning 7 of their last 10 meetings. But looking at their recent form, the picture is reversed. The San Diego Padres have been on a tear, scoring a whopping 62 runs while winning 8 of their last 10 games, whereas the Cubs have managed just 4 wins in that span, scoring 33 runs as their offense has cooled off. The Padres also made a statement in their most recent meeting yesterday, earning a convincing win.
Ultimately, the key to this matchup is whether San Diego’s hot bats can get to the Cubs’ pitching early. If the Padres use their recent firepower to take an early lead, it will be a tough task for the Cubs to overturn the deficit while struggling to score. On the other hand, if the Cubs’ pitchers can disrupt the Padres’ rhythm and keep the game close and low-scoring, there’s still a real chance they could turn things around with the focus that short series demand.
