07/30 Padres Preview: Game 108 vs. Cincinnati

The Padres will face a familiar face on the mound tonight as former Padre and fan favorite Mat Latos makes the start for the Reds. And taking the hill for San Diego will be the starting pitcher who was part of the four-player package aqcuired for Latos, Edinson Volquez.

Volquez is making his third career start against Cincy. In his first three, he went 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA. He is going for his third straight victory tonight after pitching a pair of decent outings against the Brewers and Cardinals. He wasn't spectacular in those two wins, giving up a combined six runs on ten hits and four walks through 10 1/3 innings of work, but he help the Padres in those games.

He hopes to do the same tonight against a struggling Reds offense. They've lost four straight, scoring only three runs during that span. They'll look to Latos to help them snap that streak and there's probably no one better on the team to do so. Latos has won three of his last four starts, most recently keeping the Dodgers to just two runs (one earned) in 7 2/3 frames, resulting in the team's only win during the four-game series in L.A.

Both Latos and Volquez were masterful the last time they faced each other in July of 2012. Latos threw seven scoreless innings of four run ball and struck out eight Padres batters. Volquez kept the Reds to a single run while striking out ten in seven innings. But San Diego ended up walking off with a 2-1 victory, much like last night's outcome. We'll see if the Padres can continue their recent success and secure their third straight series win tonight.