NewsPeavy has put trade talks behind him
San Diego (13-19) at Chicago (17-14), 5:05 p.m. PT
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
05/10/09 7:30 PM ET
HOUSTON -- Jake Peavy will be pitching at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tuesday -- only he'll be doing it in a Padres jersey and not that of the Cubs, a team he was rumored to be heading to over the offseason.Peavy will make his eighth start of the season vs. the Cubs after the Padres have their first off-day of the season on Monday, their first in 17 days.
The Padres, who fell to the Astros, 12-5, on Sunday in Houston, were 4-13 over that stretch.
Peavy hasn't won a game since April 16, which happens to be the last time the Padres -- who have dropped 16 of their past 20 games -- got a victory from a starting pitcher.
That's not to say Peavy has thrown poorly of late.
In his start on Wednesday vs. the D-backs, he allowed two runs in seven innings with a season-high 12 strikeouts, but took the loss. Prior to that, he tossed eight scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in a loss to the Dodgers on May 1.
Peavy answered questions about how he was almost dealt to the Cubs in Spring Training and on Opening Day. The Cubs were really the only team the Padres were talking to, and they're one Peavy, who has a full no-trade clause, said he would accept a deal to.
That said, Peavy indicated that he never asked for a trade and that he wants to remain in San Diego. He said he's not thinking about the Cubs, though he realizes he'll be asked about the deal that never was on Tuesday.
"I've got to be sold-out for the team I'm playing for," Peavy said in April. "That's what I'm doing. If I was to ever get traded, I won't ever think about pitching here again. That's just only fair to the team I'm employed by and the team I pitch for. It's only fair to my teammates.
"I'm committed to giving this team everything that I have. I'm in as good shape as I've ever been. I feel as good as I've ever been. I'm going to work as hard as I ever worked in the past. I just want my teammates to know they've got every bit of me."
Pitching matchupSD: RHP Jake Peavy (2-4, 4.27 ERA)
Peavy made one mistake in his previous start, and it cost him dearly. The right-hander struck out nine batters through five innings, struck out the first batter he faced in the sixth inning, walked a batter and then allowed a two-run home run to Justin Upton. Otherwise, Peavy was sharp, getting a lot of mileage out of his mid-90s fastball as his slider. CHC: RHP Rich Harden (3-1, 4.83 ERA)
Harden pitched seven strong innings in his previous start, on Wednesday at Houston, before giving up three hits, including a two-run homer to Lance Berkman, in the eighth. He gave up three runs and eight hits overall on 99 pitches. He struck out four and walked three. It was his longest outing of the season. He had lasted six innings in three of his previous four starts. Harden, who spent the first 5 1/2 years of his career in the Majors with Oakland, has never faced San Diego. Tidbits
Prior to Chase Headley's home run in the fourth inning Sunday, the Padres had gone 193 at-bats without a homer. ... Outfielder Brian Giles didn't start Sunday, even though the Padres were facing a right-handed pitcher (Roy Oswalt). Giles went into the day hitting .151 in 119 at-bats. He also entered the game a career .292 hitter. Jody Gerut started in right field and hit a homer. ... Sunday marked the 25th birthday for reliever Edward Mujica. ... A Padres starting pitcher hasn't won a game since April 16. ... Injured pitcher Walter Silva (strained right forearm) made a Minor League rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Portland. ... Rookie shortstop Everth Cabrera, who broke the hamate bone in his left hand on April 19, starting swinging the bat Sunday -- sort of. Cabrera was able to do some swinging with one arm, holding the bat in his right hand. He won't be able to take real swings for a while. Tickets
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• Wednesday: Padres (Chris Young, 2-1, 4.76) at Cubs (Ted Lilly, 4-2, 3.11), 5:05 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Padres (Chad Gaudin, 0-2, 4.08) at Cubs (Randy Wells, 0-0, 0.00), 11:20 a.m. PT
• Friday: Padres (Kevin Correia, 0-2, 5.34) vs. Reds (Aaron Harang, 3-3, 2.93), 7:05 p.m. PT
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
