Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres odds, picks and predictions

The Chicago Cubs (25-32) and San Diego Padres (27-31) meet Sunday for game 3 of a 4-game series. First pitch from Petco Park is set for 5:30 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Padres odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Series tied 1-1

Chicago lost 6-0 as +173 road favorites Saturday. San Diego won thanks to a monster game from RF Fernando Tatis Jr., who hit 2 HR and had 4 RBIs. SP Yu Darvish also had a big game for San Diego, with 9 K’s, 1 BB, and 0 ER in 7 IP.

The Cubs are 3-2 in their last 5 games overall and have a 10-16 road record. The Padres are also 3-2 in their last 5 despite not having any back-to-back wins during that stretch. They sit at 13-16 at home this season.

Cubs at Padres projected starters

RHP Marcus Stroman vs. LHP Ryan Weathers

Stroman (5-4, 2.59 ERA) makes his 13th start. He has a 0.99 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 7.6 K/9 in 73 innings.

• Last outing: Win, 9 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 8 K, in a 1-0 home win Monday vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• Career vs. San Diego: 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA (23 2/3 IP, 6 ER), 22 H, 3 HR, 7 BB, 24 K in 4 starts

Weathers (1-3, 4.28 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.37 WHIP, 3.7 BB/9 and 5.9 K/9 in 33 2/3 innings

• Last outing: No-decision, 4 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 4 K, in a 9-4 road win Tuesday vs. Miami Marlins
• Career vs. Chicago: 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA (14 2/3 IP, 11 ER), 18 H, 2 HR, 6 BB, 9 K in 4 appearances (3 starts)

Cubs at Padres odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:31 a.m. ET.

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW23 for $15 OFF a full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 9/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning!

Cubs at Padres picks and predictions

Prediction

Cubs 3, Padres 2

LEAN CUBS (-110).

The Cubs are 0-6 in the 3rd game of their last 6 series, but the Padres struggles outweigh those of the Cubs for this matchup. The Padres are 1-8 in Weathers’ last 9 starts vs. a team with a losing record and 0-4 in his last 4 starts at home vs. a team with a losing record. The Cubs are also 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in San Diego.

PASS.

The Padres should cover here but the line is simply not worth the juice, bet on the moneyline and/or the O/U instead.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

BET UNDER 8.5 (-110).

For Chicago the Under is 4-0 in their last 4 overall and 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a greater than 1.30 WHIP. For San Diego the Under is 7-1 in their last 8 vs. the NL Central Division.

The Under is also 5-0 in the last 5 meetings overall.

Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup