The second game of a vital three-game series in the National League is set for Tuesday night, featuring the Pittsburgh Pirates (56-61, 5th NL Central) against the San Diego Padres (66-53, 3rd NL West). The first game was contested on Monday night, with this article published prior to those results. The Pirates recently faced a tough sweep by the Dodgers in Los Angeles, while the Padres managed to secure two out of three victories in a series against the Marlins in Miami. Notably, the Padres swept the Pirates in their previous series just last week at PNC Park. In this match, the Pirates will hand the ball to Luis Ortiz (3.40 ERA), while the Padres will counter with Michael King (3.34 ERA). The first pitch is scheduled for 9:40 EST at Petco Park in San Diego.
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Pirates Struggle in the Standings
The Pittsburgh Pirates appear to have lost their earlier momentum following the All-Star Break, currently on a seven-game losing streak. Once positioned third in the NL Central, they have now fallen behind both the Cubs and Reds, landing in last place within the division. The Pirates find themselves five games off the pace for the final Wild Card slot in a competitive National League, with several teams vying for that coveted postseason spot. In their last outing, Andrew McCutchen demonstrated his power by hitting two home runs, yet the Pirates still succumbed to a 6-5 loss in extra innings.
McCutchen, who briefly sat out due to knee soreness, returned to his leadoff role on Sunday. Post-game, he reported that his knee felt about 70%, stating, “Seventy percent is better than zero percent, so if I can swing the bat, I’m gonna swing it. If I can’t run, I can’t run, but my job is to hit, to DH. … Just keep the line moving, get the next guy up, and that’s what I’m gonna do.” He now has 16 homers this season while batting .234. Bryan Reynolds contributed an RBI single during the game and leads the Pirates with 19 home runs and 69 RBIs, boasting the highest batting average on the team at .287. Oneil Cruz, the dynamic shortstop, is batting .258 with 18 homers, despite not recording a hit in his last two games.
Luis Ortiz will take the mound for his eighth start of the year after transitioning from the bullpen, where he made 22 appearances. He has started all five of his last outings, with the Pirates managing a 2-3 record during that stretch. His previous start against the Padres resulted in six innings pitched, during which he allowed four earned runs, including two home runs.
Padres Maintain a Competitive Edge
The San Diego Padres have been on a roll, winning 16 of their last 19 games. However, they slipped from second to third in the NL West after a loss to the Marlins on Sunday. With identical 66-53 records, the Padres and Arizona are in a tight battle, currently tied in their season series at 5-5. The Padres hold the third spot due to the second tiebreaker, which involves their divisional performance. The NL West is proving to be a strong division this year, with both San Diego and Arizona positioned to secure the first two Wild Card spots and a four-game margin over the teams below them.
In the game against the Marlins, Donovan Solano made an impact as a pinch hitter, launching a two-run home run in the eighth inning, but it was not enough to secure victory, with the game ending 7-6 in favor of Miami. Key contributors Jurickson Profar and Jake Cronenworth both added RBIs in that contest. Profar leads the Padres in several offensive categories, including home runs (19), RBIs (72), and batting average (.297). Cronenworth, who plays second base, follows closely behind with 14 homers, 67 RBIs, and a .248 average. Meanwhile, Manny Machado, the experienced third baseman, continues to showcase his power, contributing 18 home runs this season.
Michael King is set to make his 23rd start this season. The 29-year-old right-hander holds a 9-6 record, with the Padres winning in his last three starts, all of which were on the road. He has a solid ERA of 3.34 and ranks 11th in the MLB with 151 strikeouts this year. In his most recent outing against the Pirates, he pitched five innings while allowing four runs, securing a win in extra innings.
Smart Bets for Pirates vs. Padres
The Pirates have struggled against teams from the NL West, posting a disappointing 2-10 record in their last 12 games against the division since the All-Star Break. Given the current strength of the NL West, which is likely to send three teams to the postseason, this matchup will showcase that competitive nature. The Padres recently swept the Pirates and have already faced both starting pitchers in this series. Ortiz previously lost against the Padres, allowing early home runs from Machado and Solano, while managing only three strikeouts in six innings. Conversely, King struck out seven batters in his last matchup against Pittsburgh. After their recent loss to Miami, the Padres will be determined to bounce back and secure a much-needed victory in this highly competitive matchup.
