San Diego @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2018 ) San Diego 4, Chi. Cubs 5

Javier Baez looks to continue another offensive surge when his National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs host the struggling San Diego Padres on Saturday afternoon for the third of a four-game set. Baez belted his fourth homer in seven games Friday to match a career high with 23 overall as the Cubs edged San Diego 5-4, and is 11-for-27 with 10 RBIs in that same stretch.

Chicago hung on despite giving up two runs in the top of the ninth inning Friday, but is just a .500 team since the All-Star break (8-8) as it goes after a third consecutive NL Central title. Kyle Hendricks, who is 4-1 with a 2.62 ERA over seven career starts against Padres, will take the mound for the Cubs on Saturday and San Diego counters with rookie Walker Lockett after splitting the first two games of the series. The NL-worst Padres have dropped eight of nine overall and four of five against Chicago this season after getting the tying run thrown out at the plate in Friday’s setback. Rookie Christian Villanueva launched his 20th home run in the loss and is 4-for-9 in the series for San Diego while teammate Travis Jankowski is 5-for-10 over his last three contests.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS San Diego, NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Walker Lockett (0-1, 9.53 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (7-9, 3.97)

Lockett gets his second major league start after scheduled starter Joey Lucchesi was scratched due to a stomach illness on Friday. The 24-year-old Florida native gave up four runs on four hits and five walks over 3 2/3 innings in his first major league start June 1 against Cincinnati to take the loss. Lockett, a fourth-round pick in 2012, gave up two runs on four hits across two innings of relief July 9 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hendricks limited St. Louis to two runs and four hits with a season high-matching eight strikeouts over seven innings for his second victory since June 21. The 28-year-old Dartmouth product, who had a 3.34 ERA in July, has given up three homers in his last six starts after serving up 16 long balls in his first 16 outings. Freddy Galvis is 4-for-11 with three doubles versus Hendricks, who beat the Padres on July 14 with five innings of two-run ball.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego INF/OF Cory Spangenberg went 2-for-2 on Friday after going hitless in nine at-bats over his previous six games.

2. Chicago LHP Brian Duensing (shoulder) got placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday and LHP Randy Rosario was recalled.

3. Padres INF/OF Wil Myers was held out of Friday’s game after suffering a bruised left foot in the series opener.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Padres 3