Padres and Cubs Set the Stage for an Early Season Showdown
The Cubs and Padres are squaring off again, and this matchup is feeling a lot like a playoff preview, even though we’re just in mid-April. Both teams have come out swinging to start the 2025 season—San Diego holding the best record in the league at 13-3, while the Cubs aren’t far behind at 11-7 despite one of the toughest opening schedules in all of baseball. After dropping two games in Chicago last week, the Padres now get a shot at revenge at Petco Park, where they’ve been a perfect 10-0 so far.
Tonight's opener is shaping up to be a serious pitchers’ duel, with Dylan Cease taking the hill for San Diego against his former team. Across from him is Jameson Taillon, looking to help the Cubs extend their hot streak. Cease facing his old club adds that extra spice to what’s already a loaded matchup.
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But San Diego’s not coming in at full strength. The team is dealing with injuries to both Jackson Merrill and Brandon Lockridge, their top two options in center field. Lockridge is day-to-day with a hamstring issue, and Merrill is on the IL with the same. With center field options running thin, the Padres are exploring creative solutions. Jason Heyward might get the nod, though he hasn’t played much center lately and is 35 now. Another name being tossed around is Fernando Tatis Jr., who’s got the athleticism and has shown interest in the position in the past—but there's debate about whether that shift is worth the risk, even for a few games.
The Padres are walking a fine line right now—juggling injuries while trying to maintain their hot start. Their pitching depth is already being tested with multiple arms out, but they’ve found ways to keep winning, relying on timely offense and a patchwork rotation. That kind of resilience speaks volumes this early in the year.
On the other side, the Cubs deserve real credit. They’ve not only weathered a brutal travel and opponent schedule, but they’ve done it while losing a top arm in Justin Steele to season-ending elbow surgery. And yet, they keep finding ways to win. Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd are lined up for the next two games in the series, looking to follow Taillon’s lead and keep the momentum rolling against a Padres team that will do everything they can to protect their unbeaten home record.
Both teams have a lot to prove this series—whether it’s the Padres showing they can adapt and still dominate with pieces missing, or the Cubs proving their early-season surge is no fluke. No one’s winning a pennant in April, but this series could say a lot about who’s got the grit to be there in October. Grab your popcorn—this one’s got playoff energy all over it.
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