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Series Preview: Padres at Chicago Cubs
By Brandon Cain
The Chicago Cubs will host the Padres in a three-game series in their first appearance at Wrigley Field in the second half.
All games on WGN-AM 720
Tuesday: 7:05 p.m. on CSN+
LH Eric Stults (3-11, 4.98 ERA) vs RH Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
Wednesday: 7:05 p.m. on CSN
RH Ian Keenedy (7-9, 3.62 ERA) vs LH Tsuyoshi Wada (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Thursday: 7:05 p.m. on WGN
RH Tyson Ross (7-10, 2.85 ERA) vs RH Edwin Jackson (5-10, 5.61 ERA)
Who’s hot: Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-13 as the Cubs (40-57) split four games in San Diego from May 22-25. His .218 batting average and .345 slugging percentage against the Padres are his lowest figures against any National League opponent since he joined the Cubs in 2012.
Rizzo is 8-for-24 with three homer during his six-game hitting streak, with the Cubs losing their last five. His homer in Sunday’s 3-2 loss against the Diamondbacks matched his season career-high from last season, 23 to tie Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton for the NL lead and earn NL Player of the Week honors. Rizzo has hit .312 average off southpaws and is 2-for-10 against Stults, but hit a two-run homer off him on May 22.
Outfielder Chris Coghlan is batting .412 (21-for-51) in July for the Cubs and has been a spark in the lead off spot in front of Arismendy Alcantara, who snapped a 0-for-11 slump Sunday.
Kennedy has allowed just six runs over his last four starts and All-Star Ross has allowed two runs or fewer in six straight starts. Yasmani Grandal has hit solo homers in back-to-back wins for the Padres.
Who’s not: Stults has lost eight of his last nine decisions and is 0-7 on the road this season with a 5.44 ERA in 10 road starts. He is also a career 0-3 at Wrigley. The Padres are last in the majors in batting average (.214) and runs (289).
Outfielder Nate Schierholtz is the worst batter in baseball at .199 and is currently in a 0-for-19 slump and third baseman Luis Valbuena is 3-for-26.
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