The Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres meet Tuesday in MLB action from Petco Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Chicago Cubs will send out Matthew Boyd for the start here and Boyd was 10-5 with a 3.91 ERA and 96 strikeouts in the regular season. Michael King will start for San Diego in this one and was 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA and 159 strikeouts in the regular season.
Chicago Cubs Recap
The Chicago Cubs come into the postseason after finishing with the 2nd wild card spot after going 89-73 in the regular season.
Cubs Looking To Take Out Padres For Second Straight Season
Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs across the board with a team-high 175 hits, 45 home runs, and 107 RBIs alongside 31 doubles and 8 triples so far this season. Nico Hoerner has logged 165 hits with 29 doubles, a triple, 8 home runs, and 72 RBIs, while Alex Bregman has contributed 161 hits with 33 doubles, 2 triples, 28 home runs, and 93 RBIs on the year. Michael Busch has added 145 hits with 27 doubles, 2 triples, 20 home runs, and 77 RBIs, and Ian Happ has recorded 119 hits with 28 doubles, 3 triples, 24 home runs, and 68 RBIs. Carson Kelly has chipped in 98 hits with 15 doubles, 10 home runs, and 58 RBIs, while Dansby Swanson has registered 91 hits with 16 doubles, 3 triples, 19 home runs, and 69 RBIs for Chicago up to this point in the season.
San Diego Padres Recap
The San Diego Padres come into the postseason as the top wild card spot after going 91-71 on the year in the regular season. Check out today’s game between the Yankees and Red Sox.
Padres Looking To Avenge 2025 Playoff Exit
Fernando Tatis Jr. leads the Padres with a team-high 181 hits while adding 32 doubles, 3 triples, 25 home runs, and 83 RBIs so far this season. Manny Machado paces San Diego in power, leading the team with 30 home runs and 91 RBIs alongside 128 hits and 22 doubles on the year. Jackson Merrill has contributed 156 hits with 26 doubles, 5 triples, 26 home runs, and 87 RBIs. Xander Bogaerts has logged 120 hits with 18 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs, and 57 RBIs, while Gavin Sheets has chipped in 77 hits with 16 doubles, 17 home runs, and 48 RBIs for the Padres up to this point in the season.
The Chicago Cubs @ San Diego Padres Betting Trends: September 29, 2026
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Michael King Record this season: 12-10 ERA: 3.21
- Home Record: 6-4
- Last 5 against Cubs: 0-0
Why the San Diego Padres will win
- The Cubs have lost each of their last seven night games at Petco Park following a win.
- The Padres have won each of their last eight games as home favorites.
- The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven road playoff games.
- The Padres have covered the run line in five of their last six games as favorites.
- The Padres have led after 5 innings in 11 of their last 12 games as favorites.
- The Padres have led after 3 innings in four of their last five playoff games as favorites.
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Matthew Boyd Record this season: 10-5 ERA: 3.91
- Road Record: 4-2
- Last 5 against Padres: 2-1
Why the Chicago Cubs will win
- The Padres have lost five of their last six games as home favorites against the Cubs following a win.
- The Cubs have won four of their last five games as underdogs against NL West opponents.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last 10 games as underdogs following a win.
- The Padres have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight playoff games following a win.
- The Cubs have led after 3 innings in each of their last four games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- The Cubs have won the first inning in three of their last four games against opponents that held a winning record.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last four games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Padres’ last eight home games have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Seven of the Cubs’ last eight playoff games against NL West opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of the Padres’ last six home games against NL Central opponents.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in nine of the Cubs’ last 10 games at Petco Park.
San Diego Padres Player Prop Facts
- Manny Machado has hit a home run in three of the Padres’ last five home games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Michael King has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances with the Padres as favorites.
- Michael King has recorded five or more strikeouts in 13 of his 14 previous home appearances against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Jackson Merrill has recorded at least one hit in each of the Padres’ last 12 games as favorites.
- Fernando Tatis Jr. ranks 3rd in the league in Hits (181) this season.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Matthew Boyd has recorded a win in four of his last five appearances in night games against NL West teams that held a winning record.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong has hit a home run in four of the Cubs’ last five games against the Padres.
- Dansby Swanson has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances in night games against NL West teams that held a winning record.
- Matthew Boyd has recorded four or more strikeouts in eight of his nine previous road appearances against NL West opponents.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks T1st in the league in Home Runs (45) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Padres rank T2nd in the league for steals this season (164).
- The Padres rank 24th in the league for doubles this season (234).
- The Cubs rank 1st in the league for runs scored this season (850).
- The Cubs rank 1st in the league for RBIs this season (804).
Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres Prediction
I’m on the Cubs in this one. I think that the Padres are the team with the better starting option and better bullpen, but I trust Chicago’s bats against righties more and I trust this Cubs defense in the field a lot more than I trust the Padres’ bats against lefties. I liked the way the Cubs finished the year and I think the Cubs are just San Diego’s kryptonite. Give me the Cubs in this one.