A new three-game showdown in the National League kicks off on Monday when the Pittsburgh Pirates (56-60, 4th in NL Central) face off against the San Diego Padres (66-52, 2nd in NL West). The Pirates are wrapping up a series in Los Angeles on Sunday after losing the first two games. Meanwhile, the Padres are concluding their series in Miami, having secured victories in the first two contests. Just last week, the Padres completed a three-game sweep of the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Marco Gonzales (4.54 ERA) will take the mound for Pittsburgh, while San Diego counters with Joe Musgrove (5.66 ERA). The first pitch is set for 9:40 EST from Petco Park in San Diego.
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Pirates Struggling in the Standings
The Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves on a six-game losing streak, having faced defeats against the Padres in their previous series. Their last game against the Diamondbacks ended in disappointment, followed by three losses to San Diego, and two losses to the Dodgers heading into Sunday. Currently, the Pirates are five games behind the final Wild Card spot and need to turn their fortunes around to keep playoff hopes alive. In a recent matchup against the Dodgers, the Pirates could only muster one run, which came from a ninth-inning solo home run by Ke’Bryan Hayes in a 4-1 defeat.
Despite the struggles, the young ace Paul Skenes took the hill on Saturday but allowed four earned runs in six innings. Teoscar Hernandez capitalized on Skenes’ “splinker” pitch, a combination of splitter and sinker, hitting a home run. Skenes remarked post-game, “He won the Home Run Derby this year, right? He won it for a reason.” With only four home runs and 25 RBIs this season, Hayes is a strong defensive player at third base. Meanwhile, Bryan Reynolds leads the team with 19 home runs and 68 RBIs, boasting a .288 batting average.
Marco Gonzales will make his eighth start of the season on Monday. The 32-year-old left-hander has a 1-1 record, but his team has lost in all three of his recent outings. In his last appearance against the Padres, he lasted only 4.2 innings, giving up five earned runs, including two home runs. With a 4.54 ERA, Gonzales has recorded 23 strikeouts and 11 walks, allowing five home runs so far this year.
Padres Riding a Winning Wave
The San Diego Padres have surged to victory, winning 16 of their last 18 games and climbing the National League standings. They trail the Dodgers by just 2.5 games in the NL West and currently sit in the top Wild Card spot, enjoying a four-game cushion. The Padres aim to maintain their momentum against the Pirates after their recent sweep in Pittsburgh. They have not lost any of their last seven games heading into their match with the Marlins. Luis Arraez delivered the game-winning RBI in the 10th inning during Saturday’s game in Miami.
Padres manager Mike Shildt praised his squad after the game, stating, “It’s a privilege to manage a game like that with the club we have.” Arraez, who can play various infield positions, took on the designated hitter role on Saturday. He recorded three RBIs, raising his season total to 33, and holds a .302 batting average, ranking 7th in the MLB. Jurickson Profar, batting second, leads the team with 19 home runs and 71 RBIs, maintaining a .300 average. Manny Machado has been productive recently, driving in six runs over his last three games, including his 18th home run this season, with a .271 batting average.
Joe Musgrove, making his 11th start of the season, is returning from a 60-day injured list stint and has not pitched since May 26th. Before his injury, he held a 3-4 record with a 5.66 ERA. The 31-year-old right-hander has been a key part of the Padres’ rotation since 2021, but his performance will need to improve after a long layoff.
Best Bets for Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Diego Padres
Every streak eventually ends, but the current trends suggest that won’t be the case here. The Pirates are entering Sunday with a six-game losing streak, while the Padres have won seven straight. The two teams are moving in opposite directions, and this trend seems likely to continue as San Diego pushes for the NL West title. With Marco Gonzales on the mound, the Pirates have struggled, going 1-4 in his last five starts and allowing four or more earned runs in two of those games. In his last outing against the Padres, Gonzales surrendered home runs to both Jackson Merrill and Kyle Higashioka while giving up five runs in just four innings.
With Joe Musgrove returning from injury, the Padres are poised for a strong performance. After dominating the Pirates in their last meeting, they will have the home-field advantage this time. Expect the Padres to secure a victory by at least two runs.
