Chicago @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 13, 2018 ) Chi. Cubs 5, San Diego 7

The Chicago Cubs look to head into the All-Star break on a high note when they begin a three-game series against the host San Diego Padres on Friday. The Cubs had their three-series winning streak snapped by San Francisco on Wednesday, while San Diego is limping into the break having lost 18 of its last 24 games.

Chicago's Kris Bryant homered in his return to the lineup on Wednesday, but Anthony Rizzo went 0-for-5 and is hitless in 19 at-bats over his last four games. “He's just struggling right now,” manager Joe Maddon told reporters. “Specifically, mechanically, you’d have to talk to him. Right now, it's probably a confidence issue as much as anything. Nothing injury-wise.” Chicago sits one game back of first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central and needs to be careful not to overlook San Diego, which won the season series by a 4-2 margin last year. San Diego's Austin Hedges is showing signs of breaking out of a season-long slump with five hits in his last nine at-bats, including a three-run homer on Tuesday.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Tyler Chatwood (3-5, 5.01 ERA) vs. Padres LH Clayton Richard (7-8, 4.50)

Chatwood struggled again on Saturday, allowing seven runs and nine hits while throwing a career-high 120 pitches over 5 2/3 innings against Cincinnati. The 28-year-old Californian has worked at least six frames in three of his 16 starts and walked five or more batters nine times. Wil Myers is 8-for-22 with three homers against Chatwood, who is 6-2 with a 4.17 ERA in 13 career games (11 starts) versus San Diego.

Richard had his streak of tossing six or more innings snapped at 11 consecutive starts on Sunday, when he came away with a no-decision after allowing three runs over five frames against Arizona. The 34-year-old native of Indiana is 6-4 with a 3.70 ERA and a 56-to-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last 12 starts. Jason Heyward is 1-for-11 against Richard, who owns a 2-1 record and 2.60 ERA in four career starts versus the Cubs.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cubs have won nine of their last 13 games following a 4-9 stretch in late June.

2. The Padres optioned LHP Joey Lucchesi to Triple-A El Paso and recalled C Raffy Lopez from the Chihuahuas.

3. Cubs LHP Jon Lester will start Sunday’s series finale and could be unavailable for Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

PREDICTION: Padres 6, Cubs 5