Randy Vasquez Just Conquered Coors Field. Now He's Coming for the Cubs' Fifth-Ranked Offense

The San Diego Padres' right-hander is having a season that's making everyone else in the rotation look like they're sleepwalking. Randy Vasquez takes the mound Monday night at Petco Park to open a three-game series against Chicago, and if you've been paying attention to what he's done the last month, you know the Cubs are walking into a problem.

The Filthy Start Nobody's Talking About

Vasquez is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA, and the numbers tell a story that's almost hard to believe. Outside of four runs in four innings against Seattle on April 15, he's given up just two earned runs across his other four starts. Last Tuesday in Denver, he threw seven innings on 84 pitches and didn't allow a run, leading the Padres to the first visiting team victory at Coors Field in 20 years. Three hits, five strikeouts, zero walks. That's the second shutout outing he's posted this season.

"Just trusting my game plan and executing my pitches," Vasquez said when asked how he's doing something even the best pitchers struggle with in altitude. "Just as I've been able to do so far."

The increased velocity has been the key. More strikeouts, fewer walks, cleaner innings. For a rotation that's been beat up by injuries, Vasquez has become exactly what the Padres needed.

A Cubs Team That's Got Teeth, But Trouble

Chicago's offense is legit, ranked fifth in runs with 149 and second in on-base percentage at .354. They've got 37 home runs on the year. They rattled off a 10-game winning streak before getting hammered by the Dodgers over the weekend, dropping Sunday's game 6-0.

But here's the real issue: the Cubs' bullpen is falling apart. Lefty Riley Martin just hit the injured list Sunday with elbow inflammation, forcing three additional moves to patch things up. Veteran righty Phil Maton is expected back soon, and closer Daniel Palencia (left lat) is throwing 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."

Vasquez will face left-hander Matthew Boyd (1-1, 5.79), who just came off the 15-day injured list Wednesday after a left biceps strain. Boyd pitched 4 2/3 innings in Chicago's 7-2 win over Philadelphia, allowing five hits and two runs with five strikeouts.

The Script Writes Itself

This is Vasquez's fourth career start against the Cubs. He's 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA over 14 innings, that loss coming last April at Wrigley Field when San Diego started 7-0. Boyd went 1-1 against San Diego last year and threw 4 1/3 shutout innings in the Cubs' 3-1 win during the 2025 wild-card series opener.

The Padres have won 16 of 20 since a rough 2-5 start, though they squandered a 7-1 lead Sunday in Mexico City against Arizona before losing 12-7. Monday's matchup at Petco Park is a chance to keep momentum rolling against an offense with talent but a bullpen held together with duct tape.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.