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After an offensive outburst that saw the Padres touch double digits in the score column for only the third(!) time this season, the Friars will send Jhoulys Chacin to the mound to face off against rookie righty Luke Weaver and the Redbirds.
Chacin (11-8, 3.98 ERA) has finally worked his ERA down below 4.00 with a solid effort against Washington in his last outing, going 5 innings and allowing only a run off of four hits even with less than stellar control (4 BB). Chacin has hit a consistent stride so far but hasn’t fared well against the Cardinals, going 0-4 with a 5.81 ERA in 5 games. Despite career totals, Chacin is lined up to do damage against another strong National League team: he’s held both the Dodgers and Nationals to only a run apiece in his last two starts.
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Opposite Chacin will be rookie Luke Weaver (1-1, 3.31 ERA) in his first appearance against the Padres. Weaver is taking the start from Adam Wainright, who hit the DL last Friday with a right elbow impingement. Weaver’s last action was in relief of Wainright against the Pirates, throwing two shutout innings in a comeback 11-7 victory. Despite only 5 appearances and 2 starts Luke will try to keep his Cardinals team on pace with the Cubs after last night’s loss put the Cards 4 1⁄2 games back in the NL Central race. The Cardinals are also suffering from run hemorrhaging: in the past 12 games St. Louis has surrendered at least 5 runs. It’s even worse in the last 5 games, surrendering at least 6 or more.
The Padres will look to score more runs behind Carlos Asuaje (2 hits last night), Austin Hedges (3-run shot) and Yangervis Solarte, who collected a career-high 6 RBI. The longball-happy Friars have already collected 154 homers in 125 games compared to 177 overall last year.
The Padres are poised to kick the Cards further down the NL Central ladder and seize a series win. Tonight’s contest starts at 5:15 PM Left Coast Time.
Game Time: 5:15 PM PST
TV: FSSD, Fox Sports Deportes (Spanish)
Radio: 94.9 FM, XEMO 860 (Español)