CUBS LINEUP \u2014<\/strong> In case you missed last night\u2019s win<\/a>, the Cubs hit FIVE home runs en route to a 9-7 victory over the San Diego Padres. They\u2019re 14-4 in their last 18 games, scoring 6.5 runs per game during that stretch. Despite having a beat-up pitching staff, the Cubs\u2019 offense is keeping this team afloat, and then some. They find themselves 5.5 games behind the Brewers for first place in the NL Central, which is truly not horrible, all things considered. <\/p>\n The Cubs haven\u2019t lost a series since June 10, which is saying something because before that, they went a month without winning a series. This team truly is the definition of a roller coaster, except you have no idea what\u2019s coming next. What we do know is that the Cubs will go for the sweep against the Padres today at Wrigley Field, with the North Siders looking to start July on a positive note. <\/p>\n This lineup had yet another fantastic performance last night, so there\u2019s no real reason to shake things up. <\/p>\n The only two changes from last night are Miguel Amaya over Carson Kelly and Michael Conforto instead of Kevin Alc\u00e1ntara, both of which are self-explanatory. Kelly gets the day off after a busy last week, and Conforto gets the nod against a right-handed starter.<\/p>\n Chicago Cubs<\/strong>:\u00a0Colin Rea, RHP<\/a><\/p>\n The birthday boy, Colin Rea, takes the mound in today\u2019s series finale, looking to continue the momentum from his last two starts, in which he\u2019s allowed just one run across 10.1 innings. In those two outings, he\u2019s faced the Blue Jays and Brewers, by no means weak opponents. <\/p>\n It\u2019s been a pretty up-and-down season for Rea, who has a 4.80 ERA in 17 games. It\u2019s obvious that the Cubs need any innings they can get right now, but they also need Rea to perform better. Clearly, the last two starts have been outliers when looking at the entire season, but here\u2019s to hoping that trend can continue today against the Padres. <\/p>\n Rea has pitched on his birthday once before, which came in 2016 while he was with the Padres. Facing the Yankees, he threw six innings, allowing just one run en route to a 7-6 victory. Let\u2019s keep those good birthday vibes going!<\/p>\n San Diego Padres:<\/strong> Walker Buehler, RHP<\/a><\/p>\n Walker Buehler gets the ball for the Padres today, looking to avoid the sweep at the Friendly Confines. Buehler has faced the Cubs once this year, but this is his first start at Wrigley Field since 2022. <\/p>\n Earlier this season in San Diego, Buehler threw 4.2 innings against the Cubs, allowing two runs in a game the Cubs would win 8-3. After that, he had a pretty rough month of May, posting a 4.39 ERA with just 19 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. <\/p>\n However, he completely flipped the script in June, with a 1.71 ERA in 26.1 innings. He started five games, allowing just one run in each of them. Needless to say, he\u2019s on a roll right now. His xERA of 4.34 this year does hint at some luck going his way, but he\u2019s getting results nonetheless.<\/p>\n His pitch mix is fascinating, with the 31-year-old featuring seven different pitches in his arsenal. He throws his cutter, four-seam fastball, and sinker most often, but also varies those usages based on the handedness of the batter. <\/p>\n INJURY REPORT<\/p>\n Cubs vs. Padres \u00b7 entering June 29<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n CUBS<\/p>\n Jameson Taillon<\/p>\n Strained hamstring \u00b7 15-Day IL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Daniel Palencia<\/p>\n Elbow inflammation \u00b7 15-Day IL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Ben Brown<\/p>\n Stress reaction in neck \u00b7 15-Day IL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Edward Cabrera<\/p>\n Strained hamstring \u00b7 15-Day IL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Phil Maton<\/p>\n Knee tendinitis \u00b7 15-Day IL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Hoby Milner<\/p>\n Appendectomy \u00b7 15-Day IL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Matt Shaw<\/p>\n Wrist strain \u00b7 10-Day IL<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Justin Steele<\/p>\n Elbow surgery (UCL revision repair)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Shelby Miller<\/p>\n Tommy John surgery<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Tyler Austin<\/p>\n Knee surgery (patella debridement)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Hunter Harvey<\/p>\n Triceps inflammation<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Cade Horton<\/p>\n Tommy John surgery<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Porter Hodge<\/p>\n Tommy John surgery<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Riley Martin<\/p>\n Strained elbow (flexor)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n PADRES<\/p>\nChicago Cubs Lineup:<\/h2>\n
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San Diego Padres Lineup:<\/h2>\n
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Pitching Matchup:<\/h2>\n
Broadcast Info:<\/h2>\n
\n![\"Cubs](\"https:\/\/www.bleachernation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/KEY-INJURIES-1.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/figure>\nCubs vs Padres \u2013 Key Injuries:<\/h2>\n
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\n \n SP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n RP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n SP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n SP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n RP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n RP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n 3B<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 60-DAY IL<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n SP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n RP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n 1B\/OF<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n RP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n SP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n RP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \n RP<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n \n