Padres Preview: 04/19 Colin Rea will make his first career start against Pirates

So far this season the Padres haven't given fans much to hope for, going 4-9 and getting shut out five times going into this series. After yesterday's off day, hopefully the team is ready to bounce back as they continue their homestand and welcome their next opponent to Petco Park for the first time in 2016. They'll begin a three-game set tonight against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, and on the mound in the opener will be the young right-hander Colin Rea going against veteran lefty Francisco Liriano.

Rea had a rough time in is first start of the season, but his last time out he had much more success. He threw seven innings of two-run ball last Wednesday against the Phillies on the road. He used only 94 pitches that outing, as opposed to the 90 pitches he threw in his first start, when he lasted only 3 1/3 innings against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Liriano is also making his third start of the season, though his last time out was 11 days ago. The right-hander skipped his last start due to tightness in his right hamstring. But in his first two starts he went 1-0, keeping opponents to three runs on eight hits in 11 innings of work.

Game time: 7:10 pm PT
Radio: The Mighty 1090, La Poderosa 860 (Sp.)
TV: FSSD, Fox Deportes San Diego (Sp.)

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