Chi. Cubs (12-8) at San Diego (14-4)
- When: Apr 16 2025, 4:10 PM
- Where: PETCO Park, San Diego
- Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network
MLB Betting Preview & Predictions: Cubs vs Padres
Moneyline: San Diego -124 | Total: 7.5
The San Diego Padres look to bounce back Wednesday afternoon after their first home loss of the season, a narrow 2-1 extra-inning defeat to the Chicago Cubs. With the series tied, both teams will be pushing to take the rubber match at Petco Park in what should be another tightly contested National League showdown.
Chicago Cubs Outlook
Despite being shorthanded — with Seiya Suzuki sidelined and prospect Matt Shaw sent back to Triple-A — the Cubs showed resilience. Nico Hoerner delivered the go-ahead triple in the 10th inning, and the bullpen shut the door late. Manager Craig Counsell has options at third base, including Gage Workman, Jon Berti, and veteran Justin Turner, which gives Chicago some flexibility moving forward.
Matthew Boyd gets the nod for the Cubs and brings a 1-1 record with a strong 1.59 ERA into the finale. Boyd was sharp in his last outing despite a loss, giving up just a single three-run homer to the Dodgers. He already has a win over the Padres this season, having tossed six scoreless innings against them in early April. If he can replicate that form, Chicago has a legitimate shot to steal this series.
San Diego Padres Outlook
The Padres had been nearly unbeatable at home, entering Tuesday with an 11-0 Petco Park record before the Cubs ended that streak. Now San Diego turns to Nick Pivetta (2-1, 1.59 ERA) to get them back on track. Pivetta dominated the Rockies in his last outing with 10 strikeouts in seven shutout frames but struggled against Chicago earlier this month.
The Padres are also dealing with injuries to center fielders Jackson Merrill and Brandon Lockridge. With neither available, the club has leaned on Tyler Wade and Jason Heyward, though both are weaker options against left-handed pitching. Connor Joe could see action in this game, especially if the matchup calls for a righty bat.
Betting Trends & Prediction
San Diego comes in as the slight favorite at -124 on the moneyline, with the total sitting at 7.5. Despite Tuesday’s stumble, the Padres have been dominant at home and have the pitching edge with Pivetta’s current form.
The Cubs are scrappy and Boyd has looked solid, but regression may be on the horizon, especially against a hungry San Diego lineup looking to avoid back-to-back losses. Expect a bounce-back performance from the Padres in a low-scoring affair.
Prediction: Padres 4, Cubs 2
Best Bet: San Diego ML (-124)
Lean: Under 7.5 (-110) total runs
- MLB Odds source: MyBookie Sportsbook
