Padres Preview: 05/17 Colin Rea faces the Giants for the first time

The Padres are back home tonight after a seven-game road trip and an off day. For the first time this season they will host the first-place Giants at Petco Park.

San Francisco, who are 22-18 on the season, come into this series riding a five-game winning streak. But the Padres are only 4.5 games back of the division leaders and could make up some serious ground during this three-game set.

Rookie right-hander Colin Rea will start the series opener tonight and he'll be looking to bounce back from a rough outing in Chicago last week. He gave up four runs and lasted only five innings against the Cubs. But prior to that, he had a brilliant performance against the Mets, going eight innings and allowing only one run. Tonight will be his first time ever facing the Giants.

Rea's opponent tonight will be Madison Bumgarner, who will be making his 24th career appearance against San Diego. He had a career 9-5 record and 3.26 ERA against the Padres. He has had trouble pitching at Petco Park in the past, however. In ten career starts (and one relief outing) in the San Diego, he is 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA. It's the only NL West park in which he has an all-time losing record - and hopefully it remains that way after tonight.

Game time: 7:10 pm PT

Radio: The Mighty 1090, La Poderosa 860 (Sp.)

TV: FSSD, Fox Deportes San Diego (Sp.)