The Miami Marlins will bring their dismal 8-17 road record to Petco Park tonight to open a 3-game set with the San Diego Padres. Two lefties will be tapping the rubber, with Caleb Smith starting for the Marlins and Joey Lucchesi for the Padres. Lucchesi has lowered his ERA over his last 3 starts to 2.84, with a WHIP of just 0.68. He will be working on six days’ rest where the Padres are 5-1 in his last 6 starts and they are 4-1 in his last 5 turns against the National League East. Over Smith’s last 3 starts, his ERA has ballooned to 6.08 with a 1.20 WHIP. San Diego has been smacking lefties at home, going 5-2 in their last 7, and they have won 5 of the last 6 against the Marlins. I like the Friars in this situation.
TONIGHT’S PICK: SAN DIEGO PADRES