SAN DIEGO -- About five hours before first pitch on Saturday, the Cubs' Kyle Schwarber was working on his home run swing to prepare for Monday's T-Mobile Home Run Derby. All the extra batting practice paid off in the fourth inning against the Padres.
Schwarber connected on a 3-1 fastball from the Padres' Luis Perdomo with a man on for his 18th home run, giving the Cubs a 3-2 lead. It was an opposite-field shot to left, and had an exit velocity of 103 mph, according to Statcast™.
Schwarber will face the Astros' Alex Bregman in the first round of the Home Run Derby on Monday at Nationals Park, while Cubs teammate Javier Baez will face the Dodgers' Max Muncy.