The Padres and Twins are set for a three-game weekend series at Petco Park with both clubs trying to protect the last wild-card spot in their leagues.
San Diego comes in having won seven of its last 10 and holding a one-game edge over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third wild-card position. Minnesota is 5-5 over its last 10 and would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.
The Padres have not announced a starter for Friday night’s opener against Twins left-hander Connor Prielipp, but right-hander Randy Vásquez is expected to handle the bulk of the innings. Vásquez is 8-6 with a 4.30 ERA over 111 innings this season.
Prielipp is coming off a rough outing against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he was tagged for eight earned runs and eight hits. He has allowed at least three earned runs in each of his last three starts.
Saturday brings a matchup between Padres right-hander Casey Mize and Twins right-hander Dean Kremer. Mize, acquired by San Diego in a trade deadline deal with the Detroit Tigers, was hammered in his Padres debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving up eight earned runs in 3.1 innings. Since then, he has steadied himself, allowing two earned runs and eight hits across 12 innings in his last two starts.
“I was asked, ‘Was it an outlier?’” Mize said after allowing just three hits across six innings against Cleveland.
“I [didn’t] want to say ‘Yes.’ But yes, it was.
I’m not saying I’m going to go six shutout innings every time either. It’s just that I feel like I can put us in a good chance to stay in the game more times than not.”
Mize has a 3.18 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP on the year, and his arrival was a clear sign that the Padres are pushing hard for a playoff run. Kremer, meanwhile, gave up four earned runs and five hits in 5.1 innings in his last start against the Phillies. He carries a 6.59 ERA over his past five outings.
Sunday’s finale features Walker Buehler for San Diego and Bailey Ober for Minnesota. Buehler took the loss in his most recent start even though he allowed only two hits and two earned runs over six innings.
It was his first loss since July 6 against the Diamondbacks. Ober has struggled lately as well, posting a 5.47 ERA over his last five starts and surrendering eight hits twice in that span.
Friday’s opener is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. PT/9:40 p.m.
ET and will air on Padres.TV and in the MLB app. Saturday’s game is set for 5:40 p.m.
PT/8:40 p.m. ET on Padres.TV, KFMB 8.1 (CBS) and in the MLB app.
Sunday’s series finale begins at 1:10 p.m. PT/4:10 p.m.
ET on Padres.TV and in the MLB app.
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