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    Cubs-Padres Game Two Thread: Imanaga's Opener Is A Necessary Evil

    The Padres face the prospect of elimination if they can't win today at Wrigley Field.
    Brandon Glick

    By Brandon Glick

    Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images

    Cubs Video

    Chicago will treat today as a tandem day on the mound: Andrew Kittredge will open, then Shota Imanaga will follow with a bulk outing. Kittredge worked a clean eighth yesterday. This season, he has held right-handed hitters to a .690 OPS and left-handed hitters to a .541 OPS while his season FIP sits at 3.40. Over his last six starts, Imanaga has a 5.97 ERA with 12 home runs allowed in 34 2/3 innings, and he has allowed 31 homers in 144 2/3 frames this year. 

    Imanaga Against Padres Hitters

    Shota Imanaga vs. San Diego Padres: Current Batters Table
    Rk Player B PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS SH SF IBB HBP GIDP
    1 Luis Arráez L 10 9 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .111 .200 .111 .311 0 0 0 0 0
    2 Xander Bogaerts R 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
    3 Manny Machado R 9 9 1 0 0 1 1 0 6 .111 .111 .444 .556 0 0 0 0 0
    4 Fernando Tatis Jr. R 9 8 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .375 .444 .375 .819 0 0 0 0 0
    5 Jake Cronenworth L 6 6 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .333 .333 .500 .833 0 0 0 0 0
    6 Martín Maldonado R 6 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 .200 .333 .800 1.133 0 0 0 0 1
    7 Jose Iglesias R 4 4 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 .750 .750 1.000 1.750 0 0 0 0 0
    8 Jackson Merrill L 3 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .333 .333 .667 1.000 0 0 0 0 0
    9 Freddy Fermin R 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .500 .000 .500 0 0 0 1 0
    10 Gavin Sheets L 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
    Provided by Stathead.com: Found with Stathead. See Full Results.
    Generated 10/1/2025.

    Dylan Cease draws a conventional start for San Diego. His overall season included ups and downs, but his September trend was upward: in five starts last month, he recorded a 3.12 ERA with a 2.56 FIP.

    Cease Against Cubs Hitters

    Dylan Cease vs. Chicago Cubs: Current Batters Table
    Rk Player B PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS SH SF IBB HBP GIDP
    1 Ian Happ B 24 21 1 0 0 0 0 3 10 .048 .167 .048 .214 0 0 0 0 1
    2 Willi Castro B 23 23 5 0 0 1 2 0 8 .217 .217 .348 .565 0 0 0 0 0
    3 Kyle Tucker L 14 12 4 1 0 0 1 2 3 .333 .429 .417 .845 0 0 1 0 0
    4 Nico Hoerner R 13 9 2 1 0 0 0 3 2 .222 .462 .333 .795 0 0 1 1 0
    5 Michael Busch L 9 8 2 0 0 2 4 1 4 .250 .333 1.000 1.333 0 0 0 0 0
    6 Justin Turner R 8 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .125 .125 .125 .250 0 0 0 0 0
    7 Pete Crow-Armstrong L 5 4 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 .500 .600 .750 1.350 0 0 0 0 0
    8 Dansby Swanson R 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
    9 Reese McGuire L 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
    10 Seiya Suzuki R 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000 .000 .000 0 0 0 0 0
    11 Matt Shaw R 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500 .500 .500 1.000 0 0 0 0 0
    Provided by Stathead.com: Found with Stathead. See Full Results.
    Generated 10/1/2025.

    Bullpen usage from yesterday shapes how both sides can deploy relief behind today’s starters. For Chicago, Matthew Boyd covered 4 1/3 innings before the bullpen recorded a postseason-record stretch by retiring 14 consecutive batters without a baserunner. Daniel Palencia handled 1 2/3 innings, followed by one inning each from Drew Pomeranz, Kittredge, and Brad Keller. 

    San Diego used four relievers behind Nick Pivetta’s five innings. Mason Miller pitched the 7th inning. Adrian Morejon covered one inning. Jeremiah Estrada worked 2/3 of an inning, and Wandy Peralta recorded the final 1/3 of the 8th. That usage left the Padres’ late-inning group relatively fresh for today, with Cease on a standard starter’s workload. 

    Matchup-wise, Kittredge’s opening inning will likely see him face Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, and Manny Machado. The Cubs used him yesterday in that same section of the order. Once Imanaga enters, Chicago can stagger right-on-left plate appearances with him and their bullpen cavalry.

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    Featured Comments

    Brandon Glick

    Brandon Glick 159

    Posted

    2:08pm start today folks! Go, Cubs, Go!

    Screenshot 2025-10-01 at 11.09.29 AM.png

    • Like 1
    squally1313

    squally1313 2,225

    Posted

    Is the game tomorrow locked in for 2:08? In the unlikely event that we lose?

    17 Seconds

    17 Seconds 1,058

    Posted (edited)

    3 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

    Is the game tomorrow locked in for 2:08? In the unlikely event that we lose?

     
    Spoiler

    FOR ANY THREE-GAME SCENARIOS ON THURSDAY, OCT. 2:

    If the DET @ CLE series is over, then there are no changes to the original schedule.

    If the SD @ CHC series is over, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
    2. BOS @ NYY remains at 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN.
    3. CIN @ LAD remains at 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT on ESPN.

    If the BOS @ NYY series is over, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. on ESPN).
    2. SD @ CHC moves to 6:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. CT on ESPN (instead of 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT) on ABC).
    3. CIN @ LAD remains at 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT on ESPN.

    If the CIN @ LAD series is over, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. on ESPN).
    2. SD @ CHC moves to 5:08 p.m. ET/4:08 p.m. CT on ESPN (instead of 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT on ABC).
    3. BOS @ NYY moves to 8:08 p.m. ET on ESPN (instead of 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).

    FOR ANY TWO-GAME SCENARIOS ON THURSDAY, OCT. 2:

    If the DET @ CLE and BOS @ NYY series end, then:

    1. SD @ CHC remains at 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT on ABC.
    2. CIN @ LAD moves to 7:38 p.m. ET/4:38 p.m. PT on ESPN (instead of 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT on ESPN).

    If the DET @ CLE and SD @ CHC series end, then:

    1. BOS @ NYY moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
    2. CIN @ LAD moves to 7:38 p.m. ET/4:38 p.m. PT on ESPN (instead of 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT on ESPN).

    If the DET @ CLE and CIN @ LAD series end, then:

    1. SD @ CHC remains at 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT on ABC.
    2. BOS @ NYY moves to 7:38 p.m. ET on ESPN (instead of 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).

    If the SD @ CHC and CIN @ LAD series end, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
    2. BOS @ NYY moves to 7:38 p.m. ET on ESPN (instead of 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).

    If the BOS @ NYY and SD @ CHC series end, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
    2. CIN @ LAD moves to 7:38 p.m. ET/4:38 p.m. PT on ESPN (instead of 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT on ESPN).

    If the BOS @ NYY and CIN @ LAD series end, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
    2. SD @ CHC moves to 7:38 p.m. ET/6:38 p.m. CT on ESPN (instead of 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT on ABC).

    FOR ANY ONE-GAME SCENARIO ON THURSDAY, OCT. 2:

    If there is only one game, then it will be scheduled at 7:38 p.m. ET on ESPN.

     

     

    Edited by 17 Seconds
    KCCub

    KCCub 264

    Posted

     

    • Like 2
    squally1313

    squally1313 2,225

    Posted

    Same lineup as yesterday 

    Outshined_One

    Outshined_One 846

    Posted

    18 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

    Same lineup as yesterday 

    image.png.1efe47bd4f3aed34fb162d419a611028.png

    CubinNY

    CubinNY 2,051

    Posted

    Let them please win this game and have it be over. No drama would be nice too. 

    • Like 3
    JBears79

    JBears79 201

    Posted

    Really wish Horton hadnt gotten hurt...

    • Like 2
    muntjack

    muntjack 227

    Posted

    How fantastic would a 5-run 1st inning be? 

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,013

    Posted

    1 hour ago, 17 Seconds said:
     
      Hide contents

    FOR ANY THREE-GAME SCENARIOS ON THURSDAY, OCT. 2:

    If the DET @ CLE series is over, then there are no changes to the original schedule.

    If the SD @ CHC series is over, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
    2. BOS @ NYY remains at 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN.
    3. CIN @ LAD remains at 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT on ESPN.

    If the BOS @ NYY series is over, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. on ESPN).
    2. SD @ CHC moves to 6:08 p.m. ET/5:08 p.m. CT on ESPN (instead of 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT) on ABC).
    3. CIN @ LAD remains at 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT on ESPN.

    If the CIN @ LAD series is over, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. on ESPN).
    2. SD @ CHC moves to 5:08 p.m. ET/4:08 p.m. CT on ESPN (instead of 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT on ABC).
    3. BOS @ NYY moves to 8:08 p.m. ET on ESPN (instead of 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).

    FOR ANY TWO-GAME SCENARIOS ON THURSDAY, OCT. 2:

    If the DET @ CLE and BOS @ NYY series end, then:

    1. SD @ CHC remains at 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT on ABC.
    2. CIN @ LAD moves to 7:38 p.m. ET/4:38 p.m. PT on ESPN (instead of 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT on ESPN).

    If the DET @ CLE and SD @ CHC series end, then:

    1. BOS @ NYY moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
    2. CIN @ LAD moves to 7:38 p.m. ET/4:38 p.m. PT on ESPN (instead of 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT on ESPN).

    If the DET @ CLE and CIN @ LAD series end, then:

    1. SD @ CHC remains at 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT on ABC.
    2. BOS @ NYY moves to 7:38 p.m. ET on ESPN (instead of 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).

    If the SD @ CHC and CIN @ LAD series end, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
    2. BOS @ NYY moves to 7:38 p.m. ET on ESPN (instead of 6:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).

    If the BOS @ NYY and SD @ CHC series end, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
    2. CIN @ LAD moves to 7:38 p.m. ET/4:38 p.m. PT on ESPN (instead of 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT on ESPN).

    If the BOS @ NYY and CIN @ LAD series end, then:

    1. DET @ CLE moves to 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC (instead of 1:08 p.m. ET on ESPN).
    2. SD @ CHC moves to 7:38 p.m. ET/6:38 p.m. CT on ESPN (instead of 3:08 p.m. ET/2:08 p.m. CT on ABC).

    FOR ANY ONE-GAME SCENARIO ON THURSDAY, OCT. 2:

    If there is only one game, then it will be scheduled at 7:38 p.m. ET on ESPN.

     

     

    That's a lot of scenarios.  To boil it down here are the scenarios where a Game 3 starts after 4pm CT:

    1. Red Sox over Yankees, everything else goes to Game 3

    2. Dodgers over Reds, everything else goes to Game 3

    3. Red Sox ver Yankees, Dodgers over Reds, Guardians over Tigers

    4. All other series end except Cubs/Padres

    • Like 1
    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,013

    Posted

    Also there's this.  I'm on a flight to Europe that leaves at 4:30 on Saturday, so kind of hoping the Yankees pull it out...

    image.png

    Outshined_One

    Outshined_One 846

    Posted

    1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

    Also there's this.  I'm on a flight to Europe that leaves at 4:30 on Saturday, so kind of hoping the Yankees pull it out...

    image.png

    We get it.  You're about to go on an amazing vacation while the rest of us toil and suffer!

    Derwood

    Derwood 3,372

    Posted

    I managed to see most of yesterday's game. Might be able to catch the last few innings of today's (unless it's another quick 2-1 type of game)

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,013

    Posted

    18 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

    We get it.  You're about to go on an amazing vacation while the rest of us toil and suffer!

    It's a work trip dammit.  I mean there are worse places to go on a work trip but if the Cubs advance there are gonna be some rough nights unless they are all day games.

    • Haha 1
    Outshined_One

    Outshined_One 846

    Posted

    15 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

    It's a work trip dammit.  I mean there are worse places to go on a work trip but if the Cubs advance there are gonna be some rough nights unless they are all day games.

    Alonzo Mourning GIFs | Tenor

    Brian707

    Brian707 1,519

    Posted

    38 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

    Also there's this.  I'm on a flight to Europe that leaves at 4:30 on Saturday, so kind of hoping the Yankees pull it out...

    image.png

     

    So the baseball world revolves around Yankees/Red Sox LOL.

    Why does it matter who advances between Red Sox/Yankees?

    The Saturday start- I would prefer a night game so I don't have to day drink(not that there is anything wrong with that)

    Rcal10

    Rcal10 1,541

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

     

    So the baseball world revolves around Yankees/Red Sox LOL.

    Why does it matter who advances between Red Sox/Yankees?

    The Saturday start- I would prefer a night game so I don't have to day drink(not that there is anything wrong with that)

    I would prefer the day game Saturday. But as long as they do play I will be watching. Typically I like to go to dinner on Saturday nights. The start time in Az is 6:08 for that one if the Yankees lose. Guess we will be eating in!!!!! 

    • Like 1
    JHBulls

    JHBulls 856

    Posted

    39 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

    It's a work trip dammit.  I mean there are worse places to go on a work trip but if the Cubs advance there are gonna be some rough nights unless they are all day games.

    image.gif.240a60f37c19c7b2bf4a366e9ba8dcd4.gif

    • Haha 2
    CubUgly

    CubUgly 132

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Derwood said:

    I managed to see most of yesterday's game. Might be able to catch the last few innings of today's (unless it's another quick 2-1 type of game)

    I can't manage it at work, the game is so stressful for me - even on my phone next to my computer with the volume off - I would be a complete mess and unable to function.  I just check the score occassionally and watch the highlights after - if we win. 

    soccer10k

    soccer10k 545

    Posted

    38 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

     

    So the baseball world revolves around Yankees/Red Sox LOL.

    Why does it matter who advances between Red Sox/Yankees?

    The Saturday start- I would prefer a night game so I don't have to day drink(not that there is anything wrong with that)

    I don't understand why the Mariners aren't the late game no matter what. I get that it's a Saturday but it seems stupid to start the Brewers game at 8 p.m. local time.

    Rcal10

    Rcal10 1,541

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, soccer10k said:

    I don't understand why the Mariners aren't the late game no matter what. I get that it's a Saturday but it seems stupid to start the Brewers game at 8 p.m. local time.

    Probably because the Cubs/Brewers are a better prime time game than the Mariners game against Guardians or Tigers

    chibears55

    chibears55 794

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Brian707 said:

     

    So the baseball world revolves around Yankees/Red Sox LOL.

    Why does it matter who advances between Red Sox/Yankees?

    The Saturday start- I would prefer a night game so I don't have to day drink(not that there is anything wrong with that)

    Yankees, Dodgers, Redsox in that order will always get the priority when it comes to national viewing. 

    chibears55

    chibears55 794

    Posted

    Need to get something positive out of Tucker and PCA, don't think 2 runs will be enough today. 

    Eeyore

    Eeyore 199

    Posted

    Swanson hasn't done anything all day 😡

    • Love 1
    Jason Ross

    Jason Ross 2,540

    Posted

    Regardless of what the wind is doing at Wrigley today. Cleveland's wind-insanity wins the day. Woof. What a rough day to be an outfielder. Even rougher; Chase DeLauter is making his MLB debut in this nonsense after not playing since July due to injury.



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