The Chicago Cubs (6-3) and San Diego Padres (5-7) open a 3-game series Monday. First pitch from Petco Park is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Padres odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Cubs won 4-3 last season
The Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-1 Sunday and took 2 of 3 games from them in the series. The Cubs got off to a hot start, scoring 3 runs in the 1st inning and 7 by the 4th. A 6th-inning home run from CF Cody Bellinger cemented the Chicago scoring. RHP Yency Almonte picked up the win for Chicago.
The Padres fell 3-2 to the San Francisco Giants Sunday and dropped the series 2 games to 1. San Diego took a 2-1 lead into the 8th inning on account of RBIs from 1B Jake Cronenworth and SS Ha-Seong Kim. RHP Jhony Brito gave up 2 runs in the 8th and picked up the loss for San Diego.
Cubs at Padres projected starters
RHP Javier Assad vs. RHP Yu Darvish
Assad (1-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his 2nd start. He allowed 4 H and 1 BB with 5 K in 6 scoreless innings in his debut vs. the Colorado Rockies Tuesday.
- 2023 stats: 5-3, 3.05 ERA (109 1/3 IP, 37 ER) in 10 starts and 22 relief appearances
Darvish (0-1, 2.30 ERA) makes his 4th start. He has a 1.09 WHIP, 2.87 BB/9 and 9.19 K/9 in 15 2/3 innings.
- Has given up just 4 ER in his 3 previous starts
- Has been a victim of his team’s offense; it has scored just 4 combined runs in 2 of his 3 starts
- 2023 stats: 8-10, 4.56 ERA (136 1/3 IP, 69 ER) in 24 starts
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Cubs at Padres odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:10 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cubs +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Padres -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs +1.5 (-175) | Padres -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Cubs at Padres picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 6, Padres 5
Moneyline
BET CUBS (+115).
The Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 games and have scored at least 8 runs in 5 of their last 7. They have given up 5 or fewer runs in 5 of their last 7. They are 2-1 as underdogs this season.
The Padres have lost 4 of their last 6 at home and have scored 4 or fewer runs in each of their last 6 games. They are just 2-4 in their last 6 games as favorites, all at home.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
The profit is higher on the Cubs to win outright.
Over/Under
BET OVER 7.5 (-120).
Chicago has scored 5 or more runs in 6 of its last 7 games and 8 or more in 5 of its last 7. It has allowed 4 or more runs in 6 of its 9 games this season.
San Diego has scored at least 3 runs, and given up 4 or more, in 6 of its last 10 games.
The Cubs and Padres have a combined 11-9 Over record so far this season.
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