On Friday, the Pittsburgh Pirates (20-36) face off against the San Diego Padres (31-22) 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 three-game winning streak and has won four of their last five games prior to their series finale against Miami. In their recent 8-6 victory over the Marlins, Jackson Merrill made a notable contribution for the Padres, going 1-for-3 at the plate. His performance included a home run, two runs scored, and one RBI. So far this season, Fernando Tatis Jr. has been the team’s main power source, pacing San Diego with 13 home runs. Behind him, Gavin Sheets ranks second on the team with 10 home runs. Sheets has also been particularly productive with runners on base, leading the Padres with 31 RBIs. When it comes to hitting for average, Manny Machado stands out among San Diego hitters. He heads the team with an impressive .316 batting average this year. Over their most recent five-game stretch, the Padres have averaged exactly four runs per contest. This consistent scoring has helped them remain competitive in the NL West, where they now trail the first-place Dodgers by only two games. Looking ahead, the Padres will aim to maintain their momentum as they host the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park. On the season as a whole, San Diego’s offense has produced an average of 4.2 runs per game, a mark they hope to build on in this upcoming series.

Pittsburgh enters this game on a one-game winning streak and has won three of their last five games prior to their series finale against Arizona. In their recent 9-6 victory over Arizona, Bryan Reynolds had an outstanding night for the Pirates, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, including a home run. Reynolds also crossed the plate twice and drove in three runs, making a significant impact on the win. So far this season, Oneil Cruz has been the Pirates' biggest power threat, leading the team with 11 home runs. Bryan Reynolds is not far behind, ranking second on the club with 7 homers to his name. Reynolds currently sits atop the team leaderboards in RBIs, having driven in 30 runs so far this year—a valuable contribution for Pittsburgh's often-struggling offense. When it comes to batting average, veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen has set the pace for the Pirates, hitting .261, which is the highest mark on the team. Despite some solid individual performances, the Pirates have struggled collectively at the plate, scoring an average of 4.4 runs over their last five games. This hasn’t been enough to lift them out of the NL Central basement, as they remain in last place in the division. With the team in the midst of a rebuilding phase, every win is hard-fought. Overall, Pittsburgh has had a particularly tough time producing runs this season, managing just 3.1 runs per game—the lowest average of any team in the MLB.

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