Padres at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are buried in the basement of the National League Central but they have won three in a row for the first time since taking the final three of a four-game set in San Diego in mid-May. The Pirates have a chance to victimize the visiting Padres once again when they attempt to complete a three-game sweep in Sunday's series finale.
Jose Osuna took advantage of a rare start to deliver a tiebreaking single in Friday's 2-1 victory before coming off the bench to slam a two-run homer Saturday - his major league-leading third pinch-hit blast. Adam Frazier matched his RBI total for the month of June with a two-run single that put Pittsburgh ahead to stay en route to the 6-3 victory Saturday. Manny Machado continues to swing a hot bat for San Diego, homering for the second straight day while improving to 20-for-43 during a 10-game hitting streak. Machado scored 15 runs and has collected 12 RBIs during the tear, including at least one in six consecutive games.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (6-4, 3.74 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Steven Brault (3-1, 4.40)
Lucchesi matched his longest outing of the season last time out against Milwaukee, blanking the Brewers on three hits over seven innings to earn his third victory in his last four starts. The 26-year-old has permitted three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight turns, including a hard-luck loss against the Pirates on May 17 in which he allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings. Lucchesi has yet to win away from home, posting an 0-2 mark and 5.88 ERA in five starts.
Brault was hammered for six hits and nine runs at St. Louis on May 12 and followed that up by picking up the win in relief against the Padres six days later despite allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over 3 1/3 innings. He has turned a corner since then, permitting two runs or fewer in each of his five appearances, including six scoreless innings at Miami on June 14 to remain unbeaten since April 1. Brault is 0-1 with a 4.67 ERA in five home appearances (two starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Pirates SS Kevin Newman has hit safely in 13 consecutive games.
2. Padres OF Hunter Renfroe, who leads the team with 23 homers, is 0-for-10 with six strikeouts in the past three games.
3. Pittsburgh placed RF Gregory Polanco (shoulder) placed on 10-day injured list.