With last night’s 7-3 victory over the 8-12 Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, the 14-7 San Diego Padres have now won 4 straight and 9 of their last 11. Tonight they will play the middle game of their 3-game set with the Bucs and are expected to send lefty Sean Manaea to the hill. Manaea comes in at 2-2 with an ERA of 3.47 and a 1.03 WHIP. Pittsburgh is expected to counter with J.T. Brubaker and he has yet to find his mark. Brubaker is winless at 0-2 with an elevated ERA of 6.46 and a 1.63 WHIP. San Diego is 5-0 in their last 5 as a road favorite, 6-0 in their last 6 against a team with a losing record, and 6-0 in their last 6 against the National League Central. Consider the Friars.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN DIEGO PADRES