The San Diego Padres are set to host the Pittsburgh Pirates in a matchup that could have implications for the National League Wild Card race. The Padres, currently holding the final Wild Card spot, will send right-hander Michael King to the mound against the Pirates' Paul Skenes.
King has been a strong performer for the Padres, particularly in home and night games. This season, he has posted a 2.81 ERA over 93 innings in night games and holds a career .250 batting average against Pirates hitters. Overall, King's record stands at 8-9 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, with 128 strikeouts on the season.
His counterpart, Paul Skenes, has experienced a more challenging season than anticipated. Skenes, who has 171 strikeouts, carries a 9-11 record with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. While his strikeout numbers remain high, his ERA is notably higher than in previous short stints. He has allowed 41 walks in 139.0 innings this year. Skenes has had limited success against the Padres, holding them to three hits in 24 at-bats.
The Pirates have struggled to build on their previous season's performance, currently sitting 7.5 games back of a Wild Card spot with four teams ahead of them. Despite improvements in their hitting, their pitching staff has faced difficulties. The Padres, meanwhile, have won ten games above .500, showing a similar surge after the All-Star break as they did last season en route to a Wild Card berth.