MLB: Friday's play

Play: San Diego -104 (Shields vs. Hammel)

Time: 2:20 p.m. ET

Reasoning: The Padres have won five of their last six. Last year against Chicago they took two out of three at Wrigley Field and outscored the Cubs 21-6 in the final two games. Here San Diego sends out James Shields, who Chicago hasn't seen since 2008. Shields has a 2.08 ERA and in his last start he limited San Francisco to one run on three hits over seven innings. Jason Hammel, who won his 2015 debut after giving up three runs on eight hits over six innings, has had more than mixed success against the Padres in his career. In his last four starts vs. San Diego he has a 6.04 ERA. The Cubs are hitting .208 vs. RH. Matt Kemp has always enjoyed the Friendly Confines and has a .323 BA with six homers and 20 RBIs in 104 PA there. Justin Upton, who has homered in back-to-back games, has a 12-game hitting streak dating to last season. Chicago will be without hard-throwing reliever Neil Ramirez for this one. He exited Wednesday's game after three pitches because of right shoulder discomfort and underwent an MRI on Thursday. Ramirez struck out 53 and posted a 1.44 ERA in 43.2 IP as a rookie in 2014.


Record: 341-258-12 (56.9%)
Bankroll: +287.61%