In six playoffs starts with the Padres, Darvish has gone 6+ innings while holding his opponents to less than three runs in all six starts. He’s backed by one of the top bullpens during the regular season with a 3.06 ERA. Their bullpen has allowed just one run in 9.1 innings thus far and the Cubs are only hitting .175 as a team in the first two games of this series. James Taillon pitched well down the stretch allowing two runs, or less, in each of his last six starts with top five bullpen in the NL this season.
Jameson Taillon is 17-6 on the over this season, including 8-2 in his last 10 starts. Taillon faced the Padres earlier this season and allowed 1 walk in 5.1 innings pitched.
Yep, I'm paying out the wazoo for insurance but I don't care as a Cubs fan (+1 is fine). I have no interest in sweating this game Thursday, and this may help a little. Needless to say, my memories of winner-take-all Cubs games vs. the Padres are not great. 1984: I punched/kicked (Karate Kid phase) so many Steve Garvey pics. And Leon Durham. But I believe SD manager Mike Shildt make a mistake Wednesday by pulling a dominating Dylan Cease after 3.2 innings. Now his stellar bullpen is taxed behind a struggling Yu Darvish (5.38 ERA) -- irreplaceable lefty Adrian Morejon, who got the win today, has thrown both games and 2.1 innings on Wednesday. Fire-balling righty Mason Miller has been similarly busy.
The Cubs re-signed Wantz to a minor-league contract Thursday.
Buehler allowed one run on six hits and one walk while striking out three batters over four innings in a no-decision against Arizona on Thursday.
Peterson did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on seven hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings.
Sheets is in the lineup Thursday versus the Diamondbacks.
Thornton (5-4) worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Thursday's 3-2, extra-innings victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out one.
Bregman went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 3-2, extra-innings win over the Blue Jays. He also stole a base.
Crow-Armstrong went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored in Thursday's 3-2, extra-innings win over the Blue Jays.
Campusano is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Diamondbacks.
Ray is listed as the Padres' probable pitcher for Friday's game against the Astros in Houston.
The Cubs optioned Ferguson to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
