Fox Sports backs Padres over Cubs in MLB wild-card preview
Fox Sports tips San Diego to advance in a best-of-three series, citing its late-season form and home record while flagging questions about Chicago’s pitching.
Major League Baseball’s four best-of-three Wild Card Series are scheduled to begin Tuesday, 29 September. In its preview, Fox Sports examines the teams’ strengths and potential X-factors, with its visible prediction favouring the San Diego Padres over the Chicago Cubs.
Fox Sports points to San Diego’s 35-17 record over the final two months and its 51-30 home record as reasons for confidence. The outlet also highlights the Padres’ improved second-half offence and their bullpen.
The Cubs’ case, according to the preview, rests on Pete Crow-Armstrong and a strong offence and defence. Fox Sports identifies Chicago’s pitching as a concern, while noting the team’s defence could help limit the damage.
Alex Bregman is the Cubs’ named X-factor. The preview says he returned from facial fractures to go four-for-four with two home runs in the regular-season finale, and cites his second-half OPS of 1.010.
For the Padres, Fox Sports singles out Ethan Salas, whose late-season form could earn him a role behind the plate. The outlet says he went 10-for-25 with a home run across his last 10 games after starting his career 0-for-14.
Fox Sports predicts San Diego to advance, pointing to home advantage and its view that Chicago’s pitching concerns could prove difficult to overcome. The supplied preview text cuts off during its discussion of the Phillies and Braves, so it does not establish the outlet’s other series predictions.
