Short hops

• Outfielder Will Venable, who didn't play in the first two games of the D-backs series because of his sore right foot, was available on Wednesday, Black said. Venable was hit by a pitch on Sunday and had some swelling in the foot. He was out Monday and was available to play on Tuesday.

• Black said that it's an almost certainty that Carlos Quentin will serve as the designated hitter during the team's Interleague series in Chicago against the White Sox, which begins on Friday.