The Cubs beat the Padres 7-1 Tuesday night, improving to 34-27 this season.
Here are 10 observations from the game.
1. Patrick Wisdom is here to defend his NL Player of the Week honor. The third baseman hit his seventh home run in his last nine games, a two-run blast in the sixth to give the Cubs a 5-0 lead.
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2. Wisdom’s power surge is sparking the Cubs’ offense and also etching his name in the history books. His eight home runs through 10 starts with the Cubs are tied for the most by any player through 10 starts with a team in modern MLB history (1900 to present).
"I already used the words carrying us, but it's just real," manager David Ross said. "Some of the guys have said it best. You keep trying to get Wis up there and watch what he can do."
3. Anthony Rizzo has hit well since May, but one thing missing has been power (.289 average, .369 OBP, .412 slugging percentage since May 1). The lefty mashed his first home run since May 2 in the sixth.
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Said Rizzo of snapping the drought: "When you go a while without one, it starts to just be there. It felt nice."
4. Zach Davies had a career year with the Padres in 2020 and, in his return to San Diego, delivered one of his finest starts this season. The right-hander tossed six shutout innings, holding the Padres to two walks and one hit.
"Best pitching performance I've seen him have," Ross said. "That's a good lineup he kept off balance and did a really nice job."
5. Davies has failed to pitch deep into games in many of his 13 starts this season. Tuesday was the second time he’s tossed six-plus innings and first time since May 7 (seven).
"If it weren't for all the runs, we could have sent him back out for more," Ross said. "He was in a nice groove. It looked like things were easy for him tonight."
6. Joc Pederson made his first start since exiting Saturday's game with low back tightness and showed no ill effects. Pederson, who pinch hit Monday, went 2-for-5 with a double Tuesday.
7. While Pederson returned to the lineup, Javy Báez missed a second straight game after exiting Sunday vs. the Giants with a jammed thumb. Báez is likely out until this weekend vs. the Cardinals.
8. The Cubs have capitalized on two misreads from Padres center fielder Jurickson Profar in the last week. Profar misplayed a Rizzo line drive Tuesday, resulting in a two-run double. Last Monday, he sold out on a diving attempt, resulting in a two-out Kris Bryant triple. Bryant scored on a Javy Báez home run.
9. Alec Mills worked into some trouble in his first appearance since May 15. Mills, whom the Cubs activated him off the injured list (low back strain) pregame, allowed a run on two walks and a double in the ninth inning.
10. In their 61st game of the season, the Cubs have matched their win total from the 60-game 2020 campaign.
On deck: The Cubs and Padres play the rubber match Wednesday starting at 3:10 p.m. Jake Arrieta (5-6, 5.26 ERA) and former Cubs ace Yu Darvish (6-1, 2.25 ERA) are the probable starters.