San Diego @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2018 ) San Diego 4, Chi. Cubs 5

Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon wants to move Anthony Rizzo down in the lineup, but the slugging first baseman is making a strong argument to remain at the top of the order. Rizzo has homered on back-to-back days in a pair of 5-4 victories for Chicago, which goes for a series win over the visiting San Diego Padres on Sunday in the finale of a four-game set.

Rizzo has homered five times in the last nine games and is batting a robust .377 in 20 games since Maddon shifted him to the leadoff spot on July 13. Kyle Schwarber also homered Saturday and had his thrd straight two-hit game for the Cubs, who will be looking to win three in a row for the first time since sweeping the Padres in San Diego in the final series before the All-Star break. Catcher Austin Hedges has a pair of homers and five RBIs in the series for the Padres, who have dropped nine of 10 and given up at least five runs eight times in that span. Christian Villanueva was hit by a pitch twice in Saturday's loss and had his five-game hitting streak versus Chicago snapped.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (5-6, 3.74 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (12-4, 3.22)

Lucchesi was scheduled to start Saturday's game but came down with a stomach bug on Friday night so the Padres opted to push him back one day. The 25-year-old rookie is coming off another abbreviated start, giving up season highs of five runs and three homers over 4 1/3 innings in a 5-4 loss to Arizona. Lucchesi, who will be facing Chicago for the first time, has failed to get through six innings in 12 consecutive starts.

Lester had won eight consecutive decisions entering the All-Star break but he is winless in three starts since then, falling to 0-2 in that span after allowing four runs and seven hits over five innings at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He beat the Padres with 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball on July 15 but has been reached for at least four runs in four of his last six turns. Villanueva is 2-for-2 with a homer versus Lester.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rizzo hit his 182nd homer Saturday to move into 11th place on the franchise's all-time list.

2. The Padres placed OF Wil Myers on the 10-day disabled list Saturday due to a bone bruise on his left foot.

3. Cubs RHP Yu Darvish said he was pain-free after Saturday's 55-pitch bullpen and "very optimistic" about returning to the rotation.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Padres 4