Series Preview: Road-Weary Padres Host Pirates in Three-Game Set
Petco Park, San Diego
After playing 17 of their last 19 games on the road, the San Diego Padres will close out the month of June with a brief, but much-needed, three games at Petco Park. The Padres will host the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game series, beginning on June 29 and ending on July 1.
This will be the second series between the Padres and Pirates. The Friars won three games in a four-game series at PNC Park, May 17-20. They will hope for the same success against Pittsburgh this time around, as they look to end June and begin July on a high note. The Padres have lost 10 of their last 13 games.
Game 1: Eric Lauer (3-4, 5.05 ERA) vs. Joe Musgrove (2-3, 4.59 ERA)
Lauer posted his second straight quality start on June 24, going six innings in a 3-2 Padres loss. Lauer picked up a no-decision in that start. He allowed just one run on five hits, with a walk and four strikeouts. Through five June starts, Lauer has a 2.32 ERA, bringing his overall ERA down to 5.05.
Musgrove was roughed up by the Arizona Diamondbacks in his last start, on June 23. He went just four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Musgrove made a pair of quality starts in May, but has run into some turbulence in the month of June. He has a 7.58 ERA in four June starts.
Game 2: Joey Lucchesi (3-3, 3.57 ERA) vs. Trevor Williams (6-5, 4.03 ERA)
Lucchesi settled for a no-decision on June 25 against the Texas Rangers. He held the Rangers scoreless through four innings and allowed only a hit. It was his second start since coming off the disabled list.
Williams had a quality start against the Diamondbacks on June 24. He allowed three runs over six innings in a 3-0 Pittsburgh loss. Williams is 1-3 with a 6.09 ERA over his last seven starts.
Game 3: Tyson Ross (5-5, 3.32 ERA) vs. Jameson Taillon (5-6, 3.96 ERA)
Ross continues to make himself look like a trade piece, giving up just two runs over six innings against the Rangers on June 26. San Diego won the game 3-2. Ross is 2-2 with a 3.27 ERA over his last seven starts.
Taillon picked up a win against the New York Mets on June 25. He allowed two runs over six innings in a 6-4 Pirates victory. Taillon has won three of his last five starts, and has gone at least five innings in all five of those starts.
Players to watch
Wil Myers (SD): Myers makes his first appearance at Petco Park since April 28. He went on the disabled list with a strained left oblique on April 29, and didn’t appear in a major league game until June 21 at San Francisco. His only home run of the season so far happened at Petco Park.
Manuel Margot (SD): Margot has caught fire in the month of June, hitting .316/.388/.513. His increased production has moved him back to the top of the lineup. He was penciled into the leadoff spot in two of the last three games.
Corey Dickerson (PIT): Dickerson leads the Pirates with a .301 batting average on the season. He’s tied for the team lead in doubles with 18. He shares that lead with Gregory Polanco. Dickerson also has three triples and five home runs, and is slugging .445.
Austin Meadows (PIT): Meadows is hitting .314/.346/.525 through 34 games this season. He has five home runs, six doubles and two triples over that span.
Mike is the sports editor for the Fayette Advertiser, and has been with East Village Times since 2015. His work has appeared on Bleacher Report. He is an avid Padres fan who is keeping the faith and trusting the process.