Chicago @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2019 ) Chi. Cubs 0, San Diego 4

The Chicago Cubs will look to break out of a damaging funk when they close a four-game series against the host San Diego Padres on Thursday. Chicago has lost two straight games and five of its last six, and suddenly shares the National League's second wild-card spot with the streaking Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cubs' struggles have come at a time in which Milwaukee has won six straight and the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets - both two games back - and Arizona Diamondbacks (2 1/2 out) are also in the mix. Chicago also has fallen four games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central after collecting three hits in a 4-0 loss to the Padres on Wednesday. Miguel Margot went 3-for-4 with a homer and Wil Myers contributed a two-run single for San Diego, which is 3-3 against the Cubs entering the season-series finale. Myers has experienced a down season but is 16-for-34 with three homers and 10 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Yu Darvish (5-6. 4.12 ERA) vs. Padres RH Dinelson Lamet (2-4, 3.95)

Darvish received a no-decision against the Brewers in his last turn when he gave up three hits over five shutout innings. The 33-year-old from Japan is 10 strikeouts away from his third campaign of 200 - the others coming in his first two major league seasons in 2012 and 2013 with the Texas Rangers. Darvish is 2-1 with a 4.13 ERA in four career starts against San Diego and has enjoyed success against Myers (1-for-10) and Eric Hosmer (2-for-14).

Lamet has dropped back-to-back decisions despite striking out 14 in 11 innings against San Francisco and Colorado. The 27-year-old has struck out 74 in 57 innings over 11 starts since returning from Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss all of last season. Lamet defeated the Cubs in his lone career encounter when he gave up two runs and five hits and struck out eight in five innings May 30, 2017.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres 3B Manny Machado is hitless in eight at-bats over the past two games and 4-for-32 over the last nine contests.

2. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo is 6-for-31 in September and homerless in his past 15 appearances.

3. San Diego RHP Garrett Richards (Tommy John surgery) could make his club debut next week after finishing a minor league rehab stint Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Padres 5, Cubs 4