The set-up: The Pittsburgh Pirates completed a two-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox (MLB's worst team at 10-29) on Wednesday for their seventh victory in the last eight games. The Pirates improved to a major league-best 10-2 in interleague play despite missing center fielder Starling Marte and catcher Francisco Cervelli, who are listed as day-to-day after they were injured in Tuesday's game. The team's current hot streak has propelled them into first place in the National League Central with a 25-17 (.595) record. Pittsburgh is percentage points ahead of the 26-18 Brewers (.591). The Pirates will resume their nine-game homestand with the first of four against the San Diego Padres on Thursday night. The Padres opened their nine-game homestand by dropping four of five but bounced back to win three of the next four, culminating with a 4-0 victory over Colorado on Wednesday. The 17-27 Padres find themselves in a virtual last place in the NL West (with the LA Dodgers) despite playing a major league-high 29 games at home, where they are just 11-18. San Diego now kicks off a 10-game road trip with its visit to Pittsburgh, after playing only 15 (6-9) of their first 44 games away from Petco Park.

The pitching matchup: San Diego rookie lefty Eric Lauer (1-2, 8.27 ERA) will get the start for the Padres with Chad Kuhl (4-2, 4.17 ERA) getting the nod for the Pirates. Lauer followed the best start of his brief major league career with his worst, getting rocked for six runs and serving up four HRs in only 2 1/3 innings in a home loss to St. Louis in his last time out. The 2016 first-round draft pick earned his first career win in his previous start by blanking the Los Angeles Dodgers on seven hits over six innings in 3-0 victory on May 6. Lauer not only owns an ugly 8.27 ERA but he also has a 2.14 WHIP, while opponents are batting .365 against him. Kuhl comes in having registered his fourth quality start in his last five outings but had to settle for a no-decision against San Francisco after giving up three runs and six hits over six innings this past Saturday. Kuhl is 3-1 over his last five starts (team is 4-1) but has allowed eight HRs in that span. Kuhl will be making his third career start against the Padres and owns a 1-0 record with a 3.18 ERA in 11 1/3 innings against San Diego.
The pick: Rookie lefty Lauer (8.27 ERA / 2.14 WHIP / .365 BAA) figures to be "up against it' vs. a Pittsburgh team which is 14-6 at PNC Park, outscoring opponents 5.55-to-3.50 RPG. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play.