The 69-60 San Diego Padres took Game 1 of their 3-game set with the 63-66 Minnesota Twins last night, cruising to a 6-2 victory, and have now won 6 straight at Petco Park. The Padres are expected to send right-hander Casey Mize to hill. He might be 5-7 on the season but don’t let that sway you. Mize has good stuff and has a very respectable 3.18 ERA with a WHIP that any pitcher would be proud of at 1.07. In his last turn against the Cleveland Guardians, Mize was in the zone, logging 6 strong innings of shutout ball, yielding just 3 hits, and San Diego went on to a 5-0 victory. The Twins’ expected starter is another righty, Dean Kremer, who is 2-4 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. In his last turn against the Phillies Kremer was tagged for 4 runs on 5 hits over 5-1/3 innings of work and Philadelphia went on to win, 7-5. The Padres boast a 38-26 record at Petco Park and are 10-1 in their last 11 home games against a right-handed starter.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN DIEGO PADRES