Later this week, our Padres will be breaking camp and heading back to San Diego to close out Spring Training at Fowler Park. But they still have a few game to get through before that can happen. Tonight they'll travel to Mesa to face the Cubs at their Spring Training facility. Eric Stults will get his fifth preseason start. He had a couple of rough starts at the beginning of the Spring, but has been pitching better as of late. Over his last two starts, he's kept opponents to three runs in 8 1/3 innings, striking out four along the way. After leading the team last year in innings, as well as wins, Stults look to follow up with a another solid season on the mound for San Diego.
The Padres had their starting rotation pretty much set until Josh Johnson's injury, but now they're looking at their options for their number 5 starter. Similarly, the Cubs still haven't announced their starting five going into Opening Day, but today's starter looks to be in the mix. Carlos Villanueva will take the mound for Chicago as he continues his audition for the 5th spot in the Cubs rotation. Villanueva has a 6.17 ERA over 11 2/3 innings this Spring. He's given up eight runs on 12 hits, but has also collected 15 strikeouts, which is the 3rd most among Cubs pitchers in Cactus League play.
Watch/listen
First pitch is at 7:05pm. Tonight's contest will be the first night game at the Cubs' new Spring Training facility. No Padres TV broadcast, but MLB.TV will have the Cubs TV feed. Otherwise you can listen in on The Mighty 1090, Gameday Audio, or At-Bat.