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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.

    Writer | Director | Author

    Short Film: Path of Two Minds
    Novel: The Great, Horrible Tragedy

    Follow Brandon Glick on Twitter: brandonglick (on BlueSky)

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    Featured Comments

    s2obed

    s2obed 80

    Posted

    Fucki Tatis. Just not the Cubs day today. 

    SpongeWorthy

    SpongeWorthy 377

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

    Was it Kyle that used to obsess about how the Cubs would always get eliminated losing 3 straight games without any offense?  Obviously they can win tomorrow but the offense feels a lot like 2007, 2008, 2018 and 2020 when it just feels like it's impossible for the Cubs to string 2 hits together much less a run.  They definitely found a way to get 3 yesterday but today is rough and hopeless feeling.

    don't sell 2017 playoffs short: .168/.248/.249 as a team

    Jason Ross

    Jason Ross 2,541

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

    Can someone more versed in Padres pen tell me which high leverage arms are in good shape tomorrow if Suarez finishes this game?  Really just Miller and Morejon that are limited since Suarez didnt pitch yesterday right?

    They'll have Estrada fresh off a break today. Beyond him, there is no one fresh out of the BP that is concerning. Michael King would be available (if he isn't going to start game 1 of the next series) but he's been hurt and terrible, with a 14.5 K% and a 10.8% BB% over his last 17.2 IP (that's the only sample since early May). 

    They won't have a really reliable LHP outside of Wandy Peralta who has a .318 wOBA against LHH this year. 

    Their bullpen will be tired, or kind of bad for most of tomorrow. 

    • Like 1
    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted

    So confused why we're using Soroka here and Rea.  I know he won't likely throw a lot of pitches but doesn't make sense to burn them here down 3 with an inning to go and no offense all day.

    Illiterate Scholar

    Illiterate Scholar 98

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

    Was it Kyle that used to obsess about how the Cubs would always get eliminated losing 3 straight games without any offense?  Obviously they can win tomorrow but the offense feels a lot like 2007, 2008, 2018 and 2020 when it just feels like it's impossible for the Cubs to string 2 hits together much less a run.  They definitely found a way to get 3 yesterday but today is rough and hopeless feeling.

    I was wondering where all of the complaints about the offense were

    Stratos

    Stratos 503

    Posted

    Happ + Tucker walk.   Seiya bomb.  Let's do it

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted

    Just now, SpongeWorthy said:

    don't sell 2017 playoffs short: .168/.248/.249 as a team

    Actually thought about including that but since the results were better its forgotten.

    That one 9-8 win in game 5 against Washington had a ton of unusual runs scored including on a catchers interference and reaching on dropped 3rd strike.

    Stratos

    Stratos 503

    Posted

    1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

    So confused why we're using Soroka here and Rea.  I know he won't likely throw a lot of pitches but doesn't make sense to burn them here down 3 with an inning to go and no offense all day.

    They can't concede trailing just 3 runs

    Caesar

    Caesar 10

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Stratos said:

    Happ + Tucker walk.   Seiya bomb.  Let's do it

    So let it be written So let it be done!

    Outshined_One

    Outshined_One 847

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Stratos said:

    Happ + Tucker walk.   Seiya bomb.  Let's do it

    And then Kelly for the back to back HRs to end it.

    Jason Ross

    Jason Ross 2,541

    Posted

    Who's going to tell ESPN that Nico's ball down the RF line was actually the seventh hardest hit ball the Cubs had all day? And actually the lowest EV of Hoerner's day? 

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted

    Just now, Stratos said:

    They can't concede trailing just 3 runs

    It's not conceding, it's balancing the likelihood of a 9th inning comeback against an elite pitcher down 3 runs when the offense has done nothing vs. having arms available in tomorrow's game where the score starts 0-0 and you have to burn 9 innings.   There's no reason Rea couldn't have gotten the last 2 outs of that inning IMO.

    s2obed

    s2obed 80

    Posted

    Somebody make the wind blow out tomorrow.

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted

    1 minute ago, s2obed said:

    Somebody make the wind blow out tomorrow.

    Are you *sure* you want that?

    • Haha 1
    s2obed

    s2obed 80

    Posted (edited)

    Just now, UMFan83 said:

    Are you *sure* you want that?

    Padres don’t really hit that many homers.

    Edited by s2obed
    Stratos

    Stratos 503

    Posted

    Bitch piss

    s2obed

    s2obed 80

    Posted

    Not an easy play? These announcers are garbage. 

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted

    1 pitch from at least having the tying run up.  I dont feel great about tomorrow but I'm also a pessimist so dont listen to me.

    Caesar

    Caesar 10

    Posted

    Announcers definitely rooting for SD. Play by Play guy almost nutted in his pants! lol

    • Haha 1
    cl smooth

    cl smooth 1,629

    Posted

    go get 'em tomorrow!

    s2obed

    s2obed 80

    Posted

    Just now, UMFan83 said:

    1 pitch from at least having the tying run up.  I dont feel great about tomorrow but I'm also a pessimist so dont listen to me.

    It’s just the Cub fan in you. They have a good chance tomorrow. 

    Stratos

    Stratos 503

    Posted (edited)

    9 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

    It's not conceding, it's balancing the likelihood of a 9th inning comeback against an elite pitcher down 3 runs when the offense has done nothing vs. having arms available in tomorrow's game where the score starts 0-0 and you have to burn 9 innings.   There's no reason Rea couldn't have gotten the last 2 outs of that inning IMO.

    Yeah Rea could have gone once through the order.  But they'll have their "A" pen arms ready tomorrow, besides maybe Kittredge.

    Edited by Stratos
    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted (edited)

    6 minutes ago, s2obed said:

    Padres don’t really hit that many homers.

    Taillon is 2nd to only Shota in GB% and HR/9 this season on the Cubs and they're actually closer than you'd think

    Edited by UMFan83
    gflore34

    gflore34 966

    Posted

    It's okay, really like the Cubs chances tomorrow, have to believe Morejon and Miller are done.  Think they'll get to Darvish in a big way.



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