Padres Preview: 07/29 vs. Pirates

After taking the opener of the three-game set last night, the Padres will try to lock up the series win against the Pirates this evening as rookie Dinelson Lamet toes the rubber at Petco Park. Meanwhile Pittsburgh will give the ball to veteran righty Ivan Nova.

Lamet is coming off his second longest outing of the season. He threw 6 2/3 innings against the Giants on Sunday, keeping them to two runs on eight hits and a walk, with six strikeouts along the way to earn his fourth big league win.

Nova didn't have such luck in his last start. Through five innings of work against the Rockies, he allowed seven runs on nine hits (including two strikeouts) and a walk, though that was in the hitter friendly Coors Field. For the most part, Nova has been solid in 2017, posting a 3.62 ERA with a 1.162 WHIP in 20 starts so far and entering tonight's matchup with a 10-7 record.

This will be Nova's third career appearance against San Diego. In his two previous starts against them he combined for 12 1/3 innings with only one run allowed on eight hits and two walks, plus 15 strikeouts. Nova actually spent a little time as a Padre early in his career. He was selected by the Padres in the 2008 Rule 5 Draft and tried to earn a spot on the roster during Spring Training in 2009, but he didn't make the team and returned to his original club, the Yankees.

Game time: 5:40 pm PT
TV: FSSD, Fox Deportes San Diego (Sp.)
Radio: FM 94.9, XEMO 860 (Sp.)