Cubs vs Padres Pick – MLB Predictions & Odds 4/26/23
San Diego Padres (12-13) vs. Chicago Cubs (13-9)
April 26, 2023 7:40 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago Cubs -105 / San Diego Padres -120; Over/Under: +9.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs meet Wednesday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. In the Tuesday opener, Chicago posted a shutout win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
San Diego Padres
San Diego played the Diamondbacks over the weekend, winning three of four games. In the Tuesday opener versus the Cubs, the Padres were out-hit 7-5 in a 6-0 shutout loss. Blake Snell put up 5.0 innings with two earned on four hits and five walks in the start.
For the starter gig in the Wednesday game the Padres will send out Michael Wacha. In his four starts so far this year Wacha is 2-1 with a 7.08 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 20.1 innings. Wacha has a career record of 76-51 with a 4.10 ERA.
Chicago Cubs
Over on the Cubs’ side, they played the Dodgers in their weekend series and lost three of four games. On Tuesday Chicago scored four runs in the eighth inning during the victory. Starter Justin Steele managed 5.1 innings, three hits and two walks.
It’ll be Drew Smyly in the starting role Wednesday for Chicago. Smyly is 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA in four starts this year and has 23 Ks in 23.0 innings. Over his career Smyly is 55-48 with a 4.08 ERA in 243 games (160 starts).
The Padres are 2-5 in their last seven in game two of a series and the under is 6-2 in their last eight versus a lefty starter. The over is 9-3-1 in San Diego’s last 13 road games versus a lefty starter.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are 5-1 in their last six Wednesday games and 5-1 in their last six in game two of a series. Chicago is 16-35 in their last 51 versus the NL West.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably try Chicago here. Smyly is doing well so far this year; he’s got just two earned across 18.1 combined innings over his last three starts. Wacha, on the other hand, is struggling with 12 earned runs on 21 hits and two walks over 8.1 combined innings in his last two starts. In the Tuesday game Chicago had a pretty nice all-around effort, thanks in no small part offensively to Yan Gomes and Nico Hoerner. The bullpen gave up just two hits and three walks on the other side. This one will probably be closer, but I still like the Cubs win-wise.