Chicago @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( May 30, 2012 ) San Diego 6, Chi. Cubs 8

The Chicago Cubs are ushering in a new era that began with Anthony Rizzo in June and has extended now to Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters. The two prospects were called up Sunday, and Jackson recorded a pair of hits in his debut. Vitters will likely get his first start Monday against a left-handed pitcher in Eric Stults. The San Diego Padres also have plenty of strong prospects that will see time the rest of the way.

The Padres, who took two of three from the New York Mets over the weekend to snap a three-series losing streak, started their prospect integration earlier with the likes of Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal. Alonso showed off the power that made him a target of San Diego when he sent a blast out to straightaway center in Sunday’s win. Chicago is still unloading veterans and figures to be active in the waiver period this month as it attempts to stockpile for the future. Rizzo homered and drove in three Sunday but the Cubs were still swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSSD (San Diego)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Travis Wood (4-7, 4.90 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Stults (1-2, 3.11)

Wood has suffered the loss in four straight starts while posting a 10.45 ERA. He has served up 10 home runs in that span while walking nine in 20 2/3 innings. The left-hander has allowed eight home runs in his first 10 starts of 2012. Four of those came in one game, as Wood was pounded for six runs on seven hits in five innings by San Diego on May 28. Chase Headley went deep twice and Wil Venable and Everth Cabrera each took Wood over the wall at Wrigley Field.

Stults will move back into the Padres' rotation in the spot vacated by Kip Wells, who was designated for assignment on Friday. Stults, who made four starts for San Diego earlier in the season, had been serving as a long reliever. As a starter, the 32-year old went 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA. Stults stretched out with a 3 1/3-inning relief stint on Thursday at Cincinnati, allowing two runs (one earned) and three hits while striking out three.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rizzo’s big game Sunday snapped a four-game streak without an RBI or an extra-base hit.

2. San Diego has won all three series held at Petco Park since the All-Star break

3. The Cubs continued selling off veteran parts on Sunday, sending UT Jeff Baker to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for two players to be named later.