Chicago @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2019 ) Chi. Cubs 8, San Diego 9

Cole Hamels grew up 25 miles away from Petco Park and has thrived in his returns to his hometown ballpark. The former star at Rancho Bernardo High looks to throw another gem when the Chicago Cubs visit the San Diego Padres on Wednesday for the third contest of their four-game series.

Hamels is 5-1 with a 2.01 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in nine outings at the downtown San Diego stadium. He will try to help the Cubs rebound from Tuesday's 9-8, 10-inning setback, the team's fourth loss in five contests and one that dropped it four games behind St. Louis in the National League Central and reduced its lead over Milwaukee for the second NL wild card to one game. Chicago came back from 6-2 and 8-5 deficits, but San Diego persevered as Manuel Margot went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and drew a walk in the 10th to force in the winning run. Luis Urias went 3-for-5 with two RBIs for the Padres and is 7-for-14 during his modest four-game hitting streak.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, ABC 7 (Chicago), FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Cole Hamels (7-6. 3.95 ERA) vs. Padres RH Chris Paddack (8-7, 3.54)

Hamels has lost his last two starts - both against the Brewers - and dropped four of his last five decisions. The 35-year-old has faded badly since the All-Star break, going 1-3 with a 7.12 ERA in seven starts after being 6-3 with a 2.98 ERA in 17 turns beforehand. Hamels is 9-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 18 career starts against the Padres and has shut down Eric Hosmer (0-for-13) and Manny Machado (1-for-14).

Paddack pitched well in back-to-back road starts, allowing one run and nine hits while registering 16 strikeouts over 12 1 /3 innings in a win over San Francisco a no-decision against Arizona. The 23-year-old endured a rough four-start stretch prior to the strong outings by giving up 20 runs - 19 earned - and 27 hits over 17 frames. Paddack is 5-3 with a 3.40 ERA in 10 home starts and has recorded 61 strikeouts against just nine walks.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs 3B-OF Kris Bryant (knee) returned from a two-game absence on Tuesday to go deep twice for his 12th career multi-homer performance and drive in four runs.

2. San Diego RF Hunter Renfroe (ankle) has missed three straight games and is unlikely to return before next week.

3. Chicago OF Jason Heyward reached the 20-homer plateau for the second time in his career with the first of his two blasts on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Padres 5, Cubs 4