Padres at Cubs
San Diego hopes outfielder Carlos Quentin can jump-start the Padres’ lethargic offense, while the Chicago Cubs hope to generate enough offense to give Ryan Dempster a much-deserved victory. Quentin is 4-for-8 with a homer and two RBIs after making his season debut Monday following surgery on his right knee March 19. The Cubs look to get Dempster his first victory in 17 starts (dating back to last Aug. 11). The right-hander is among the major-league leaders in ERA, but winless on the season.
San Diego counters with Anthony Bass, who is coming off his worst effort of the season in Friday’s loss to the Mets. The Padres are 28th in the majors in batting average (.223) and last in homers (23). Quentin hit 21 or more homers in each of the past four seasons for the White Sox. The Cubs have not fared much better than San Diego this season. The Cubs have won two in a row since snapping a 12-game losing streak, and both teams occupy last place in their respective divisions.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FS San Diego (San Diego), CS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: San Diego RH Anthony Bass (2-5, 3.55 ERA) vs. Chicago RH Ryan Dempster (0-3, 2.14)
Bass surrendered eight hits and six earned runs in 5 1/3 innings Friday at New York, raising his ERA nearly seven-tenth of a run. There have been positive signs for the right-hander, who pitched in relief in 24 of 27 appearances a year ago. Bass went eight innings in beating Washington on May 15, walking one while striking out seven. Dempster does not deserve to be winless. The right-hander is tied for fourth in the majors in ERA (2.14) and 15th in WHIP (1.06), but has not won since August of last season. He allowed one earned run in 7 1/3 innings Friday at Pittsburgh, the fifth time in eight starts Dempster has held the opposition to less than two earned runs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago activated catcher Steve Clevenger from the disabled list Tuesday. Clevenger has been out since April 26 with a strained right oblique and rib injury.
2. Wednesday marks the conclusion of 20 games in 20 days for San Diego, which is 6-13 in that stretch and 1-8 on its 10-game road trip.
3. San Diego has sunk below Minnesota and holds the worst record in baseball (17-34).