San Diego Padres

With Yasmani Grandal's drug suspension ending May 28 and Nick Hundley contracted through 2014, two other Padres catchers are facing an uncertain future.

John Baker is currently Hundley's backup with the Padres. And Rene Rivera is hitting .381 -- the second-highest average in the Pacific Coast League -- with Triple-A Tucson.

When Grandal returns to the Padres, the 32-year-old Baker could be the No. 3 catcher on a two-catcher staff. As for Rivera, 29, he can declare free agency on June 15 if he hasn't been promoted to San Diego.

Both Baker and Rivera are making the decisions tough for the Padres.

Baker had two clutch hits last week, and he was credited by both manager Bud Black and pitcher Eric Stults of doing an excellent job handling the left-hander Saturday night against the Nationals in addition to throwing out two would-be base stealers.

Black refused to tip his hand Monday when asked who would be the odd man out upon Grandal's activation.

"I think in general, in our position and our general manager and front office, they have an eye for the future. As do I," Black said.

Baker was behind the plate for another winning effort Monday, when Jason Marquis and four relievers beat the Cardinals 4-2. The catcher threw out the only runner who attempted to steal a base, but he went 0-for-3, dropping his batting average to .162.

Record:

21-23

Streak:

Won three

Past 10 Games:

5-5

NEXT: Cardinals (Adam Wainwright, 5-3, 2.51) at Padres (Edinson Volquez, 3-4, 5.55)

Player Notes:

• CF Cameron Maybin could start a rehab assignment by Friday, if his workouts go according to plan this week. Maybin has been on the disabled list since April 17 due to a right wrist impingement. He took batting practice again Monday and shagged flies in the outfield. Manager Bud Black said he would like to see Maybin receive about 30 at-bats during a rehab assignment before returning to the big-league lineup.

• RHP Edinson Volquez, who starts Tuesday against St. Louis, suffered a loss in a 6-2 setback to the Nationals last Thursday. Volquez allowed five runs on five hits and four walks in five innings. Volquez is 2-4 with a 5.32 ERA in eight starts against the Cardinals. He faced them twice last season, earning a win on Sept. 11 at Petco Park. That snapped his four-game losing streak to St. Louis.

• RHP Jason Marquis has evolved as a pitcher, said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, who caught the veteran when Marquis was a member of the Cardinals. To his credit, Matheny said, Marquis is no longer the hard-throwing pitcher who could reach the mid-90s with his fastball. "He's not the same guy that I was able to catch," Matheny said. "I think he's improved over time. I think he's just gotten smarter. He has one of the better sinkers in the game and knows how to use it." Marquis beat Matheny's team Monday, allowing two runs (one earned) in six innings.

• C Yasmani Grandal is seven days away from returning from his 50-game suspension, and his return will create a dilemma for the Padres. Currently, Nick Hundley and John Baker are manning the catching duties, but that could change. Manager Bud Black refused to tip his hand Monday. "I think in general, in our position and our general manager and front office, they have an eye for the future. As do I." Pressed on the matter, Black said he and club officials will address it closer to May 28, when Grandal is eligible to return.

• SS Everth Cabrera leads the majors with 18 stolen bases and had recorded one in five consecutive games before having his streak snapped Monday against the Cardinals. Cabrera has only been thrown out once in his past 17 attempts. Cabrera has 62 steals since 2012, giving him five more than the Angels' Mike Trout has during the same period.

Quote To Note:

"He's a guy who continues to make pitches when he needs to. I've talked about it before, but he knows how to navigate his way through a major league game."

—Manager Bud Black, on RHP Jason Marquis, who beat the Cardinals on Monday.

Medical Watch:

• LHP Clayton Richard (intestinal virus) went on the 15-day disabled list May 5. He made a rehab start for Triple-A Tucson on May 16.

• RHP Joe Wieland (Tommy John surgery in July 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He threw 100 pitches at 75-80 percent on April 26. He's unlikely to return before August.

• OF Cameron Maybin (right wrist impingement) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 16. In addition to a bone bruise in the wrist, Maybin has inflammation in the cartilage as well as possible ligament damage. He hit in the batting cage for the first time May 16, and he hopes start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson by the weekend of May 24-26.

• INF Logan Forsythe (plantar fasciitis in right foot) was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list April 24. He started jogging May 8, and he was hitting in the cage as of mid-May. He hopes to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson late in the week of May 20-26.

• LHP Cory Luebke (Tommy John surgery in May 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 20. After taking three weeks off due to soreness in his elbow, he resumed throwing around Opening Day. He threw from 150 feet in late April, but he backed off his throwing program again in early May after feeling soreness in the elbow.

• RHP Casey Kelly (torn right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 60-day disabled list March 30. He had season-ending Tommy John surgery April 2.

Rotation:

RHP Edinson Volquez

RHP Jason Marquis

LHP Eric Stults

RHP Andrew Cashner

RHP Burch Smith

Bullpen:

RHP Huston Street (closer)

RHP Luke Gregerson

RHP Anthony Bass

LHP Joe Thatcher

RHP Dale Thayer

RHP Tyson Ross

RHP Tim Stauffer

Catchers:

Nick Hundley

John Baker

Infielders:

1B Yonder Alonso

2B Jedd Gyorko

SS Everth Cabrera

3B Chase Headley

INF Alexi Amarista

INF/OF Kyle Blanks

Outfielders:

LF Carlos Quentin

CF Chris Denorfia

RF Will Venable

OF/1B Jesus Guzman

OF Mark Kotsay