On Friday, the Philadelphia Phillies (54-39) face off against the San Diego Padres (49-42) at Petco Park in San Diego, California. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

San Diego comes into this matchup on a one-game winning streak and has won three of their last five games prior to their last two games against Arizona. During their narrow 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Luis Arraez played a key role for the Padres, going 1-for-3 at the plate and hitting a solo home run. That homer accounted for the game's only run and gave Arraez both an RBI and a run scored on the night. Throughout the season, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado have been the team’s primary power hitters, each racking up 15 home runs to lead the Padres in that category. Close behind is Gavin Sheets, who has contributed 13 homers, making him the third-highest home run scorer for San Diego so far. When it comes to driving in runs, Manny Machado leads the team with an impressive 53 RBIs, highlighting his value as a consistent run producer. Luis Arraez stands out as the team’s most reliable hitter in terms of batting average, boasting a .293 mark this year, which leads all Padres players. Despite individual successes, the team has struggled to put runs on the board recently, averaging only 3 runs per game over their last five contests. As of now, San Diego trails the division-leading Dodgers by five and a half games in the NL West standings. With the All-Star break approaching, the Padres are looking to build momentum and close the gap in the division. Overall, San Diego averages 4 runs per game, but they need consistent offensive production if they hope to make a serious push in the second half.

Philadelphia enters this game on a one-game winning streak and has won three of their last five games. During Wednesday's commanding 13-0 victory over San Francisco, Jesus Luzardo delivered a stellar performance for the Phillies, pitching seven scoreless innings. He limited the Giants to just three hits, gave up no earned runs, walked only one batter, and struck out seven. Luzardo’s outing played a key role in the dominant shutout win. Offensively, Kyle Schwarber has been the powerhouse for Philadelphia this season, leading the team with 29 home runs. Right behind him are Nick Castellanos and Trea Turner, each with 11 homers so far. Schwarber is also the Phillies’ top producer when it comes to driving in runs, notching 68 RBIs to date. When it comes to consistency at the plate, Trea Turner leads the squad with an impressive .294 batting average, making him the most reliable hitter in the lineup. In their last five games, the Phillies are averaging 5 runs per game, signaling that their offense is clicking into gear at a crucial juncture of the season. They currently maintain a slim lead—just half a game—over the Mets in the NL East standings. Overall, the Phillies are putting up an average of 4.5 runs per contest, and with their bats heating up, they'll aim to build on this momentum as the season progresses.

Craig's 5 Free Expert Picks - Saturday 3/18/23