Padres Preview: 05/17 @ Pirates

The Padres will kick off their road trip after a travel day in Pittsburgh with Eric Lauer taking the mound for the first of four in the Steel City.

Lauer (1-2, 8.27) did not have a great game in his last start. The major league learning curve was made apparent against the Cardinals, where the young lefty gave up 4 dongers and 6 earned runs on 6 hits in a scant 2 ¹⁄₃ innings. This was after a stellar start in Monterrey against the Dodgers where Lauer pitched a 7-hit no runs allowed 6 innings of work. Eric will have to have his stuff ready against a NL Central-leading Pirates squad with plenty of good hitters.

The Pirates will send Chad Kuhl (4-2, 4.17 ERA) to face off against San Diego. Chad has been so-so for the Bucs this season, having allowed as many hits as innings pitched (45 in 45 ¹⁄₃ innings) so far in his 2018 campaign. His last game against NL West rival San Francisco led to a no-decision after the righty allowed 3 run on 6 hits and 4 free passes in 6 innings of work. This game will mark Chad’s third start against the Padres; he’s 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA against San Diego. This current iteration of the Padres haven’t seen much of Kuhl and Andy Green has gone with a heavily-slanted lefty lineup to counter the righty.

Today’s game starts at 4:05 PM Left Coast Time.

Game Time: 4:05 PM PST
TV: FSSD, Fox Sports Deportes (Spanish)
Radio: 97.3, XEMO 860 (Español)