Padres and White Sox Open Series as San Diego Seeks to Rebound from Cubs Loss

Key facts

• Padres (19-11) host White Sox (14-17) in a three-game series starting Friday at Petco Park.
• First pitch is at 9:40 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on Padres.TV and the MLB app.
• White Sox swept the Angels in a three-game series, winning 3-2 on Wednesday as +100 underdogs.
• Padres lost their series to the Cubs 2-1, falling 5-4 on Wednesday as -112 favorites.
• Noah Schultz (1-1, 3.52 ERA) makes his fourth start for Chicago; Germán Márquez (3-1, 4.38 ERA) starts for San Diego.
• Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill is out of the lineup, hitting.095 (4-for-42) over his last 11 games.
• Padres have won the season series 2-1 so far.

Two Teams on Opposite Trajectories Meet at Petco Park

The Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres open a three-game series Friday night at Petco Park, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. The Padres enter with a 19-11 record, the best in the National League West, but are coming off a disappointing series loss to the Chicago Cubs. The White Sox, at 14-17, have won seven of their last ten games and arrive in San Diego after sweeping the Los Angeles Angels. The Padres took two of three from the White Sox earlier this season, but both teams have evolved since then. San Diego's lineup, which has struggled at the top, will face a left-handed rookie making his fourth career start. Chicago, meanwhile, has found momentum behind timely hitting and solid pitching.

White Sox Sweep Angels, Padres Stumble Against Cubs

Chicago completed a three-game sweep of the Angels with a 3-2 home victory on Wednesday as +100 underdogs. Designated hitter Austin Hays went 2-for-5, and left fielder Sam Antonacci reached base twice with a triple and a walk while driving in a run. The White Sox have gone 7-3 over their last ten games, a stark contrast to their early-season struggles. San Diego, by contrast, lost its series to the Cubs 2-1, falling 5-4 at home on Wednesday as -112 favorites. Left fielder Nick Castellanos homered and drove in two runs in the loss. The Padres have overachieved in April despite inconsistent production from the top of the order and questions about the starting rotation.

Pitching Matchup: Schultz vs. Márquez

The game features a contrast in experience: White Sox rookie left-hander Noah Schultz (1-1, 3.52 ERA) against Padres veteran right-hander Germán Márquez (3-1, 4.38 ERA). Schultz, making his fourth start, has a 1.10 WHIP with 5.3 walks and 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings over 15 1/3 frames. In his last start, a no-decision against the Washington Nationals on April 25, he allowed two earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out eight over six innings. Márquez, in his sixth start, has a 1.34 WHIP with 2.6 walks and 6.2 strikeouts per nine innings over 24 2/3 innings. He earned a win in his last outing, allowing four earned runs on six hits and one walk with two strikeouts over six innings in a 6-4 road victory at Arizona. His career numbers against the White Sox are modest: 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA in three starts.

Merrill Sits as Padres Adjust Lineup Against Left-Hander

Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill is not in Friday's starting lineup, a decision driven by his recent slump. Merrill has gone 4-for-42 (.095) with one stolen base, two RBIs and a 37.5 percent strikeout rate over his last 11 games. Bryce Johnson will start in center field and bat ninth. With left-hander Schultz on the mound, the Padres also sat first baseman Jake Cronenworth. Miguel Andujar moves up to the third spot in the order, while Ty France and Nick Castellanos start, with Gavin Sheets on the bench. Fernando Tatis Jr., still seeking his first home run of the season, is playing second base.

Márquez Pitching for Rotation Spot as Canning, Giolito Near Debuts

Márquez's performance carries added weight: he is pitching for his spot in the rotation. The Padres have Griffin Canning and Lucas Giolito nearing their 2026 debuts, and Márquez has alternated between good and bad starts this season. In his first, third and fifth starts, he allowed four earned runs each; in his second and fourth, he combined for 10 2/3 scoreless innings. His home splits this season are concerning: in two starts at Petco Park, he is 1-1 with an 8.00 ERA, allowing eight earned runs on 12 hits and three walks over eight innings. Schultz, who made his MLB debut in mid-April against the Tampa Bay Rays, has shown promise with 18 strikeouts against nine walks in 15 1/3 innings. His only road start this season resulted in a win, allowing one earned run on one hit and one walk with six strikeouts over five innings.

Broadcast and Viewing Information

The game will be broadcast on Padres.TV and available via the MLB app. For cable viewers, the Padres have announced the game will be available on select channels. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. PT / 9:40 p.m. ET. The series continues Saturday and Sunday before both teams move on to their next opponents.

The bottom line

• The Padres (19-11) look to rebound from a series loss to the Cubs, while the White Sox (14-17) ride a seven-win stretch into San Diego.
• Rookie left-hander Noah Schultz (1-1, 3.52 ERA) starts for Chicago against veteran Germán Márquez (3-1, 4.38 ERA) for San Diego.
• Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill is out of the lineup after hitting.095 over his last 11 games; Bryce Johnson replaces him.
• Márquez is pitching for his rotation spot with Griffin Canning and Lucas Giolito nearing their 2026 debuts.
• The White Sox swept the Angels in their previous series, while the Padres lost two of three to the Cubs.
• First pitch is at 9:40 p.m. ET; the game airs on Padres.TV and the MLB app.