When the San Diego Padres kick off their MLB playoff wild card series against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, the team will do so while riding a hot streak and with its most consistent pitcher on the mound.
Right-hander Nick Pivetta, who last pitched during a 5-4 extra innings victory against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sept. 22, will start the best-of-three series for San Diego.
Pivetta is a relatively recent addition to the team, having signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Padres as a free agent in February. He registered 13 wins and 5 losses during the regular season, as well as an ERA of 2.87.
He also has also the most innings thrown on the team this season, with 181.2.
When announcing Tuesday’s Game 1 starter on Sunday afternoon, Padres manager Mike Shildt told the media that the appointment of Pivetta to the role was “well deserved.”
“He’s done a tremendous job (this season),” Shildt said. “He’s literally kept us in every game and given us more than a chance to win in almost all of them. We’re excited to have him out there for Game 1.”
During two starts against the Cubs in April, Pivetta posted a 4.00 ERA.
Shildt gave no indication on Sunday who would start games 2 and 3 for San Diego, but among the candidates are right hander Michael King, who registered five wins and three losses as a starter during the regular season and had a 3.44 ERA; Yu Darvish (5-5, 5.38), Dylan Cease (8-12, 4.55) and Randy Vásquez (6-7, 3.84).
The Padres (90-72) enter the series having won their last three regular season contests and seven of their last 10.
On Sunday, they ended the regular season with a three-game sweep of divisional rival Arizona. Just before that, they won two out of three against both the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox.
The Cubs, meanwhile, went 92-70 in the NL Central during the regular season and went 3-3 in six games against San Diego back in April. Although the club ended the season on a three-game win streak, it lost six of its last 10, including a five-game losing streak in mid-September.
Chicago’s starting pitcher is currently still to be determined.
One of the Cubs’ best pitchers, rookie right-hander Cade Horton, landed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday due to a rib fracture. He had been a likely candidate to start Game 1 versus San Diego.
With him out, the Cubs could to turn to left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd for the role (14-8, 3.21 ERA). Other candidates include fellow left Shota Imanaga (9-8, 3.73) and right-handers Jameson Taillon (11-7, 3.68) and Colin Rea (11-7, 3.95).
Padres vs. Cubs NL Wild Card Series
Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30 Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1 Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 2All games are in Chicago and will be televised on ABC. First pitch for each is 12:08 pm Pacific time.
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