Two surging teams, the Boston Red Sox and the San Diego Padres, will open a 3-game set tonight at Petco Park. The 64-51 Padres have won 2 straight, 8 of their last 10 and are just 2 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the lead in the NL West. The 64-52 Red Sox have also won 8 of their last 10 and sit 4 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the top spot in the AL East. These teams match up well, but the edge goes to the Padres tonight. Walker Buehler is expected to toe the rubber for the Red Sox. Buehler is 6-6 with a 5.74 ERA, a 1.60 WHIP, and Boston is 1-5 in his last 6 road starts. The Friars are expected to send Nick Pivetta to the hill and he has been throwing flames. Pivetta is 11-3 with a 2.73 ERA, a WHIP of only 0.93, and the Padres are a stout 36-19 at home.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN DIEGO PADRES