Padres at Pirates
The San Diego Padres closed out their last road trip -- a four-game set at Colorado -- by making history as part of the highest-scoring series in league history. Such offensive fireworks are unlikely again but the resurgent Padres will be seeking their fifth straight win when they open a five-game trek with the first of three at the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
San Diego followed the Colorado run-fest by registering a three-game sweep of visiting Milwaukee, capped by a dramatic 8-7 victory on Wednesday in which Franmil Reyes clubbed a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning. “Coming off that Colorado series ... it was way too good momentum going our way,” first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “We said it before leaving Colorado, a series like that or games like that can really get you going as a team and spark things up." The Padres struggled to contain Pittsburgh's offense last month, giving up 21 runs and losing three of four at home. However, the Pirates lost 20 of 28 following that series in San Diego before rallying for a stunning 8-7 victory of their own on Wednesday, erasing a six-run deficit against Detroit and prevailing on a decisive three-run homer by Bryan Reynolds.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Lauer (5-6, 4.60 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (4-7, 4.87)
Lauer was in the midst of a superb stretch until the visit to Coors Field, when he lasted a season-low 2 2/3 innings and was shelled by the Rockies for five runs on 10 hits to lose his second straight start. He gave up three earned runs over seven innings at Washington in his previous turn, halting a three-start winning streak in which he permitted three runs and 10 hits over 18 1/3 innings. Leuer allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision versus Pittsburgh on May 16.
Musgrove is coming off a lost series in Atlanta last week, getting ejected in the first inning of his start on June 10 before he was knocked around by the Braves for six runs on nine hits over four-plus innings three days later. He also faced the Braves on June 5 and earned the win with eight innings of three-run ball, his first victory since allowing three earned runs over 6 1/3 innings at San Diego on May 19. Hosmer is 3-for-6 and Manny Machado 3-for-9 against Musgrove.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pirates SS Kevin Newman is riding an 11-game hitting streak.
2. Machado is 17-for-35 during an eight-game hitting streak.
3. Padres RH Chris Paddack will come off the injured list to start Saturday's game.