The Chicago Cubs are coming off a red-hot month of May. The Cubbies went 19-8, the best mark in the National League, and now lead the NL Central.
But can they carry that momentum over into June when they continue their series against one of the best teams in baseball? The San Diego Padres were welcomed to the Friendly Confines at Wrigley Field with a 7-2 drubbing.
Can San Diego even the series or will Chicago stay hot? Check out our free MLB betting picks and predictions for Padres vs. Cubs on Tuesday, June 1, with first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.
Padres vs Cubs game info
• Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
• Date: Tuesday, June 1, 2021
• Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
• TV: Marquee SN, BS-SD
Padres vs Cubs odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Padres vs Cubs betting preview
Starting pitchers
Ryan Weathers (2-1, 1.31 ERA): The Padres rookie will make his fourth straight start and his first career start against the Cubs. While the lefty has pitched exactly four innings in his last three starts, he has been solid in those outings, allowing a total of three runs on 11 hits over that stretch.
Kyle Hendricks (5-4, 4.63 ERA): It has been a rocky year for the usually reliable Hendricks. But like most of his teammates, the soft-tossing right-hander had a solid month of May, pitching to a 2.67 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over sixth starts last month. Now, after three straight road outings, he returns to Wrigley Field, where he has historically performed very well.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Padres: Javy Guerra RP (Questionable), Matt Strahm RP (Questionable), Trent Grisham OF (Questionable), Dan Altavilla RP (Out), Drew Pomeranz RP (Out), Austin Nola C (Out), Taylor Williams RP (Out).
Cubs: Anthony Rizzo 1B (Questionable), Alec Miles RP (Questionable), Jason Heyward RF (Questionable), Trevor Megill RP (Questionable), Nico Hoerner 2B (Out), Justin Steele RP (Out), Jonathan Holder RP (Out), Rowan Wick RP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 7-0 in the Padres' last seven games as an underdog and 4-0 in Kyle Hendricks' last four home starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Padres vs. Cubs.
Moneyline pick
The Cubs took the opener of this three-game set by jumping all over starter Chris Paddack, getting to him for five runs on six hits — including three home runs — and launching a total of five home runs for the game.
That type of production might be a little tougher in Game 2, however.
While Weathers is a rookie and doesn’t pitch deep into games, he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his 11 appearances this season and gives up just 0.8 home runs per nine innings. Weathers is also backed up by one of the best bullpens in baseball.
On the other side, Hendricks is hoping he can carry his current form over into this start and pitch more like the guy who has been so good at Wrigley Field over the years because this year the Friendly Confines have been anything but — Hendricks has pitched to a 4.94 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP at home this season.
Hendricks’ biggest problem this season is that he has been having trouble locating his usually excellent changeup. Opponents are hitting .329 off that pitch this season and Hendricks is giving up an ugly .296 opponent batting average overall. Now, he faces one of the most dangerous lineups in the MLB.
While the Cubs are the team who is hot, the betting value is with the Padres as slight underdogs in this one.
PREDICTION: Padres (-105)
Over/Under pick
While the side in this game is a close one to call, the total looks like a number we can attack.
Even though the Cubs have a tough matchup against Weathers and a good Padres bullpen, the Cubs have ridden an offense that scored 4.85 runs per game in May, while plating 5.39 runs per game at Wrigley this season.
But the Cubbies weren’t the only hot team in May. Led by Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres scored the second-most runs off right-handed pitching last month and they also score 5.26 runs per game on the road this season. If Hendricks can’t locate his change, look for the Padres to send a few taters over the ivy.
Even with two solid bullpens, this number is low enough to like the Over.
PREDICTION: Over 8 (-110)
Padres vs Cubs betting card
- Padres ML (-105)
- Over 8 (-110)
Picks made on 6/01/2021 at 12:09 p.m. ET
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