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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

    Tryptamine

    Tryptamine 2,034

    Posted

    I don't see anything definitive

    soccer10k

    soccer10k 546

    Posted

    I think he’s out but I’m not sure they can overturn it. It’s really close.

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted (edited)

    .720 xBA on that lineout with a RISP

    Edited by UMFan83
    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted

    Alright come on Nico

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted

    Ugh, getting closer to that pen

    chibears55

    chibears55 799

    Posted

    First opportunity down the drain...

    Stratos

    Stratos 503

    Posted

    I predict back to back HR by Seiya and Kelly. 

    Jason Ross

    Jason Ross 2,541

    Posted

    Just now, UMFan83 said:

    Ugh, getting closer to that pen

    The one positive is that every single one of those good arms sans Suarez saw time yesterday. A little less rested. And even if they all go today, they'll be in a weird spot tomorrow where they'd almost all be on a third day in a row. 

    Underrated aspect of yesterday was Schildt using his good arms. He can't simply rely on them. They'll either have to use less good arms today or tomorrow (if they hold on). At some point we'll get to the softer arms for a few innings.

    Hortonhearsawho

    Hortonhearsawho 84

    Posted

    With the lefties coming up I wonder if that's it for Cease. 

    Jason Ross

    Jason Ross 2,541

    Posted

    Big comeback, Shota.

    s2obed

    s2obed 80

    Posted

    Command is off. Wonder if him not starting is throwing off his command?

    soccer10k

    soccer10k 546

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

    The one positive is that every single one of those good arms sans Suarez saw time yesterday. A little less rested. And even if they all go today, they'll be in a weird spot tomorrow where they'd almost all be on a third day in a row. 

    Underrated aspect of yesterday was Schildt using his good arms. He can't simply rely on them. They'll either have to use less good arms today or tomorrow (if they hold on). At some point we'll get to the softer arms for a few innings.

    Yeah, even if we lose, keeping the game close for this specific reason is vital.

    Cubbies1996

    Cubbies1996 101

    Posted

    Ummmm I think it’s time to pull Shota…

    Tryptamine

    Tryptamine 2,034

    Posted

    He just can't locate his fastball at all

    Hortonhearsawho

    Hortonhearsawho 84

    Posted

    Shota command in this inning is a little worrisome hopefully he can dial it in and strand these runners. 

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted

    Yeah his command is not there at all.  He needs to find it fast or its gonna cost us the game.

    UMFan83

    UMFan83 3,016

    Posted

    No Dansby slander, he's been huge.

    Tryptamine

    Tryptamine 2,034

    Posted

    I'm glade Shota squeezed out of it, but I don't know if you can send him out there against the top of the order again.

    Jason Ross

    Jason Ross 2,541

    Posted

    Way to work out of it. Hope he can get you one or so more and then go to the pen. Today would be a good day for your favorite of Soroka/Civale/Rea to eat an inning or two if need be

     

    Tangled Up in Plaid

    Tangled Up in Plaid 409

    Posted

    Just now, Tryptamine said:

    I'm glade Shota squeezed out of it, but I don't know if you can send him out there against the top of the order again.

    No chance.

    chibears55

    chibears55 799

    Posted (edited)

    Had to leave yesterday at this time for an hour and they scored 2 in bottom of 5th, it's the 4th but hopefully same result 

    Edited by chibears55


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