• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Padres-Cubs Preview

May 12, 2009 - 12:21 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

San Diego (13-19) at Chicago (17-14), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Despite persistent offseason rumors that he was headed to the Chicago Cubs, Jake Peavy remained with the San Diego Padres.

In his first meeting against the team that attempted to acquire him, Peavy will try to help the Padres avoid a ninth straight road loss as they open a three-game series Tuesday night in Chicago.

Despite a 2.85 ERA that ranked third in the National League, the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner was 10-11 last season as San Diego finished 63-99 - its worst season since a 101-loss campaign in 1993.

Talk of a trade picked up steam in December with the Padres looking to dump the right-hander's $11 million salary off their 2009 books, and the Cubs coming off another disappointing playoff defeat that extended their world championship drought to 101 years.

Those rumors continued on and off into spring training, but a deal never materialized.

"I'm committed to giving (the Padres) everything I have," Peavy told the team's official Web site this week. "I just want my teammates to know they've got every bit of me."

Instead of playing in Chicago, Peavy (2-4, 4.27 ERA) has endured an inconsistent season and hasn't earned a win since April 16. The right-hander has come away empty in each of his past two starts despite allowing a total of two runs - after giving up 11 in consecutive defeats - but will work with an extra day's rest for the first time this season.

Losers in 16 of its last 20, San Diego (13-19) is hitting .205 in its last 12 games and .198 during its road losing streak that included a sweep in Houston this weekend. Peavy's previous victory April 16 in New York was the last one for Padres starters, who are 0-9 with a 5.15 ERA in their last 22 contests.

After allowing two runs or fewer in the previous five meetings against the Cubs, Peavy gave up four runs in four innings in an 8-5 defeat last season at Wrigley Field.

The right-hander will face a Cubs team that's adjusting to again playing without Aramis Ramirez. The third baseman was hitting .364 with four home runs and 16 RBIs when he dislocated his left shoulder Friday night in Milwaukee and is expected to miss the next six to eight weeks.

Without Ramirez, Chicago (17-14) endured consecutive losses for the fourth time this season before avoiding a sweep with Sunday's 4-2 win over the Brewers. The Cubs are 7-3 this month after finishing 10-11 in April.

Though Ramirez is sidelined, the Cubs may get first baseman Derrek Lee back after he missed the previous five games. The team's official Web site said Lee does not need to go on the disabled list despite being bothered by a bulging disc in his neck.

While the Cubs have hit .250 despite Ramirez missing 13 games, the team's bullpen continues to cause problems for manager Lou Piniella. Chicago's relievers blew a one-run lead in Friday night's 3-2 loss and gave up seven runs in a 12-6 defeat Saturday night.

The bullpen, though, regrouped with four scoreless innings Sunday, but Carlos Marmol walked the tying runs aboard during a 28-pitch eighth inning.

"For us to have a chance to compete in this division, we've got to get our bullpen straightened out," Piniella said. "And that's going to be priority No. 1."

Rich Harden (3-1, 4.83) will make his first career appearance against San Diego. Harden is 3-0 in his last four starts and pitched a season-high seven innings in Wednesday night's 6-3 victory in Houston.

San Diego second baseman David Eckstein has the most experience against Harden (3 for 15), but is day to day with bruised ribs after getting hit by a pitch Sunday in Houston.

Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano, who has a team-leading 10 home runs, has gone deep twice in 10 career at-bats against Peavy.