On Friday, the undefeated San Diego Padres (7-0) face off against the Chicago Cubs (5-4) at Wrigley Field in the first game of a series. Randy Vásquez is set to start for the Padres, while Shota Imanaga takes the mound for the Cubs. The Cubs recently dominated the Athletics, outscoring them 35-9 in a three-game series, highlighted by Seiya Suzuki's two home runs and five RBIs in a 10-2 victory. The Padres, boasting a strong pitching staff that has allowed only 11 runs in seven games, swept the Guardians earlier this week, achieving three shutouts so far this season.

Betting odds favor the Cubs at -165, with a moneyline of +140 for the Padres. The total runs are set at 6.5. Recent trends indicate the Padres have a solid run line record at 6-1, while the Cubs have a run differential of +14. Expert predictions lean towards the Padres covering the spread at +1.5 and the game total exceeding 6.5 runs. Stay tuned for insights and updates as this exciting matchup unfolds.