CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs used three wins over the San Diego Padres last month to create some distance between themselves and the rest of the National League Central Division.
Now locked into a fierce fight to hold off the rest of the field as they settle into August, the Cubs hope they can do the same when the Padres visit Wrigley Field for a four-game series starting on Thursday.
Chicago faces the struggling Padres fresh off a 9-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday in newly acquired Cole Hamels' debut with his new team.