Ailing Cubs chase another win over Padres

As Joe Maddon discussed the state of his Chicago Cubs on Monday afternoon in San Diego before the opener of a four-game series against the Padres, he sounded more like a triage medic than a major league manager.

In short order, Maddon discussed the injuries to third baseman Kris Bryant, two shortstops and catcher Willson Contreras.

"Kris had a cortisone shot in his knee," said Maddon, explaining why the slugger who went to the University of San Diego would miss Monday's opener and was questionable for Tuesday.

As Maddon was speaking, Cubs shortstop Addison Russell was going through Major League Baseball's concussion protocol with physicians. Meanwhile, Chicago's other injured shortstop, Javy Baez, saw a team hand specialist and was told the fracture in his thumb will likely sideline him for the rest of September.

As for Contreras, his lingering hamstring ailment is preventing him from seeing everyday action.

Even so, the Cubs came through Monday night with a win, clobbering the Padres 10-2. Shortstop Nico Hoerner, who was detoured from the Arizona Fall League to San Diego earlier Monday, celebrated his major league debut by going 3-for-5 with a triple, four RBIs and two runs.

Chicago earned just its 30th road win in 72 attempts this year. The Cubs were coming off three consecutive defeats to conclude a four-game series at Milwaukee.

The Cubs go for their second in a row Tuesday night as veteran left-hander Jose Quintana (13-8, 4.00 ERA) faces off with Padres rookie right-hander Ronald Bolanos, a 23-year-old Cuban who will be making his second major league start.

The Padres inserted Bolanos into their rotation Sept. 3, giving them a six-man set of starting pitchers that could be expanded to a seven-man crew when right-hander Garrett Richards arrives next week. Richards is working his way back from Tommy John surgery.

Bolanos held the Arizona Diamondbacks to two runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings in his big-league debut. However, he took the loss as the Padres fell 2-1.

"We really liked what we saw from Bolanos in Arizona," Padres manager Andy Green said. "That is a good place to hit and maybe not the best place for a pitcher to make his major league debut, but he went right after a good Diamondbacks lineup.

"He has stuff. If that's the way he goes about his business, we'll be fine."

Quintana will be making his fourth career start against the Padres, but it will be the first time he has pitched at Petco Park. He has a 2-0 record against the Padres with a 4.50 ERA.

The 30-year-old Colombian is 9-1 with a 3.38 ERA over his past 12 starts. He won each of his past two outings, both against the Milwaukee Brewers, one of the teams pursuing the Cubs for the second National League wild card.

Quintana will hope to get offensive support from right fielder Nicholas Castellanos, who went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer Monday. Castellanos is 12-for-31 (.387) with three homers and seven RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.

--Field Level Media

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