The San Diego Padres arrive in Chicago on April 4, 2025, sitting atop the league with a pristine 5–0 record and the swagger of a team that already feels like October in April. After years of inconsistent starts and bloated expectations, this Padres group looks polished, focused, and—most terrifying for their opponents—completely in sync. Whether it’s their lineup pounding out runs like a drumline, or the bullpen shutting doors with ruthless efficiency, San Diego has opened the season with a statement: we’re not easing into this. Now, they walk into Wrigley Field to face the Chicago Cubs, a team still figuring things out. But the Padres aren’t interested in anyone else’s growth arc—they’re here to extend their own winning streak and punish any mistake along the way. Leading the charge for the Padres is Fernando Tatis Jr., who has come out of the gate with a vengeance. Batting .423 through the first five games, Tatis has been a nightmare for pitchers, getting on base, driving in runs, and applying pressure from the moment he steps into the box. He’s backed up by a surprisingly deep supporting cast, including breakout rookie Jackson Merrill, who has already tallied two home runs and eight RBIs. This isn’t the one-man show that plagued the Padres in years past.

This is a balanced, versatile, and dangerous offense that doesn’t let up. Whether it’s Manny Machado ripping doubles, Xander Bogaerts grinding out at-bats, or Jake Cronenworth flipping the order with sneaky power, this team can score from every angle. And they’ve been doing it early and often, averaging 7.4 runs per game and knocking opposing starters out before the fifth inning more than once. Starting pitcher Randy Vásquez takes the mound for San Diego, and while he’s the biggest question mark of the roster at the moment, he doesn’t need to be perfect—just competent. He enters the game with an 0–1 record and a 5.87 ERA, the result of some shaky command and one big inning that got away from him. But the pressure is eased when your lineup is averaging nearly eight runs per game. Vásquez’s job is to keep the Cubs from getting early momentum. If he can do that and make it into the middle innings, the Padres’ bullpen can take over. Anchored by proven arms like Robert Suarez and setup man Wandy Peralta, San Diego’s relief corps has been airtight, with late-game leads feeling more like final chapters than tense drama. Defensively, the Padres have also shown a level of sharpness often missing in early April. Their infield play has been clean, the outfield has tracked down tough fly balls, and their catchers are controlling the running game well. It’s a team that doesn’t beat itself—no extra outs, no sloppy basepaths, no mental lapses. That’s what makes them especially dangerous on the road. They travel well, hit in any park, and know how to control pace. Against a promising but unsettled Cubs team, the Padres have a golden chance to stay perfect. They don’t need the wind blowing out. They don’t need lucky bounces. Right now, they just need nine innings—and they’ll usually take care of the rest themselves.