Containing Cubs' offense next quest for Padres' Randy Vasquez

After conquering Coors Field in his last outing, Randy Vasquez now looks to tame the Chicago Cubs' potent attack.

The San Diego Padres right-hander tries to keep his outstanding start to the season going Monday night when he takes the mound to open a three-game series against the Cubs at Petco Park.

Vasquez (2-0, 1.88) hinted at this progression last September when he won three games that helped San Diego secure a wild-card spot. Aside from allowing four runs in four innings on April 15 against Seattle, he's yielded just two earned runs over his other four outings.

None of those runs were scored last Tuesday night in Denver, when he sailed through seven innings on just 84 pitches in the first 1-0 victory by a visiting team in 20 years. Vasquez permitted only three hits and fanned five without a walk, the second time this season he's fired shutout ball in a start.

How does Vasquez explain doing what even the best pitchers can't do in altitude?

"Just trusting my game plan and executing my pitches," he said. "Just as I've been able to do so far."

Vasquez's increase in velocity has led to more strikeouts, fewer walks and cleaner innings. It's come in handy for a rotation missing key pieces due to injuries. Since a 2-5 start, the Padres have won 16 of 20, although they squandered a 7-1 lead during Sunday's 12-7 loss to Arizona in Mexico City.

This will be Vasquez's fourth career start against the Cubs. He's 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA over 14 innings. The loss came last April at Wrigley Field to end San Diego's 7-0 start.

He'll be opposed by left-hander Matthew Boyd (1-1, 5.79), who came off the 15-day injured list Wednesday and pitched the first 4 2/3 innings of the Cubs' 7-2 home win over Philadelphia. Boyd, who was out with a left biceps strain, allowed five hits and two runs, walking none and whiffing five in an 84-pitch outing.

Boyd went 1-1 last year in his first two career starts against San Diego, pitching to a 1.59 ERA, then allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings in a 3-1 Cubs victory in the opener of the teams' 2025 NL wild-card series.

The Cubs had been as hot as the Padres lately, rattling off a 10-game winning streak before getting routed Saturday and Sunday at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite Sunday's 6-0 setback, Chicago boasts an offense ranked fifth in runs (149) and homers (37), as well as second in on-base percentage at .354.

The one nagging problem is that Chicago's pitching staff -- particularly their bullpen -- keeps taking injury hits. The latest came Sunday when lefty Riley Martin hit the 15-day IL with elbow inflammation.

That forced three other moves to fortify the bullpen with fresh arms. Others are on the way, including the impending activation of veteran righty Phil Maton from the IL and promising news on closer Daniel Palencia (left lat), who will throw a bullpen session Tuesday.

"The next guy's got to do his job," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. "That's kind of where we're at with this. We've got guys coming back soon, so that's a good thing."

--Field Level Media