Chicago @ San Diego preview
Petco Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 6, San Diego 2
THE STORY: The Chicago Cubs wrap up the season Wednesday against the host San Diego Padres in a game that has absolutely no bearing on the playoff races. To their credit,, both teams have played well down the stretch. Chicago is 29-25 in its last 54 games, while San Diego has won seven of its last 11.
TV: 8:35 p.m. ET, WCIU, Channel 4SD
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Ryan Dempster (10-13, 4.53 ERA) at Padres LH Wade LeBlanc (4-6, 4.83 ERA)
Dempster allowed one run in six innings against the Cardinals last Friday, but he issued six walks for the second time in three starts. Dempster is 8-4 with a 3.73 ERA in 21 games - 12 starts - against the Padres. He has a 3.45 ERA over his last 20 starts.
LeBlanc gave up two runs in seven innings while striking out a career-high 10 against the Dodgers last Friday. LeBlanc, who is facing the Cubs for the first time in his career, is 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA in six starts at Petco Park this season.
ABOUT THE CUBS (71-90): Why should Cubs’ fans be interested in news that Ozzie Guillen is set to become the next manager of the Florida Marlins? Because it’s entirely possible Carlos Zambrano and Aramis Ramirez could join Guillen in South Florida. The Cubs would be happy to trade Zambrano anywhere, and his close relationship with Guillen could expedite the deal. Zambrano, who has one year left on a $91 million contract, was suspended by the Cubs after leaving the team on Aug. 12. It’s almost guaranteed that he won’t be back next season. Florida has also been a rumored destination for Ramirez, who will be a free agent at the end of this season. The Marlins have a definite hole at third base, and they’ll be looking to sign several big-name free agents as they move into their new stadium next season.
ABOUT THE PADRES (70-91): It’s been quite a year for first baseman Jesus Guzman, who will set the mark for the highest single-season batting average in Petco Park history among players with more than 100 at-bats. Guzman was 2-for-4 Monday with a double, but he was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup with a sore neck that’s bothered him for the past week. He is hitting .346 (37-for-107) at Petco Park with one game to go. The record for a season is .315 by Josh Bard in 2006. Just a year ago at this time, Guzman was a forgotten man in the Giants’ farm system. St. Louis fans have to be wondering why the Cardinals didn’t make a bigger push to acquire Heath Bell at the trade deadline. Bell recorded his sixth save in the Padres last 10 games Monday, and his 43 saves are his second-highest season total as a closer.
FINAL PITCH: All four teams from California - the Angels, A’s, Giants, Dodgers and Padres - are going to miss the playoffs this season. It'll mark the first time since 1999 that California isn't represented in the postseason.