Chicago @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 29, 2010 ) Chi. Cubs 0, San Diego 3

The San Diego Padres can’t get caught looking ahead.

The Padres send Jon Garland to the mound as they conclude a crucial four-game series with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday just prior to a weekend showdown for the National League West crown.

San Diego (88-70) is two games back of the San Francisco Giants (90-68) with four games left. The Giants, who have a magic number of three to clinch the division, are closing out a series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Padres trail the Atlanta Braves by 1 1/2 games for the wild card. Atlanta, which also has a magic number of three, is off Thursday. The Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend.

The offensively-challenged Padres snapped a three-game losing skid with Wednesday’s 3-0 victory, tying the franchise record with a 20th save.

Chris Young battled for five innings, center fielder Max Venable made two home run-saving catches early and the bullpen allowed just one runner over four frames as Heath Bell nailed down his 32nd straight save opportunity.

The offense is far from percolating and needs to wake up if the Padres are going to have a chance in San Francisco against its outstanding rotation.

San Diego managed just six hits – four singles – on Wednesday and scored one run on a wild pitch. The Padres have scored 19 runs in their last eight games with a 20-inning scoreless drought mixed in.

During the first six games of the homestand, Adrian Gonzalez is 2-for-19, David Eckstein is 2-for-21 and Ryan Ludwick is 3-for-22.

The Padres will rely on Garland (14-12, 3.58 ERA) against the club who drafted him in the first round in 1997. Chicago counters with Tom Gorzelanny (7-9, 4.28 ERA).

Although this isn’t a postseason contest, it will have the atmosphere of a playoff game, and Garland pitched well in two postseason starts for the Chicago White Sox in 2005. The 6-6 right-hander allowed four runs in 16 innings over two starts, including a complete game win against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALDS.

Garland hasn’t been at his best of late. The 31-year-old is 1-3 with a 5.16 ERA in his last five starts. He was not involved in the decision against Cincinnati on Saturday, when he yielded three runs and seven hits in six frames in the 4-3 victory. He will need to be careful with Alfonso Soriano, who homered twice on Tuesday and was robbed of another on Wednesday.

Garland was fantastic in his only game against Chicago this season, allowing four hits in seven frames in a 1-0 triumph August 17. The 11-year veteran is 4-4, 4.11 ERA against the Cubs in his career and 9-7, 3.37 ERA in 21 starts at Petco Park.

Gorzelanny is running out of steam as well. The left-hander is 1-4 with a 6.39 ERA with 53 hits and 20 walks over 43 2/3 frames in his last eight starts. He was tagged for seven runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings in his last start, a 7-1 defeat against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Gorzelanny was beaten by San Diego 9-5 at Wrigley Field on August 16. He was touched for five runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings.