Pirates at Padres
The San Diego Padres are widely expected to deal left-handed reliever Brad Hand before Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline, and the Pittsburgh Pirates would prefer they do it sooner rather than later. The highly coveted Hand has recorded a save in three straight contests for the Padres, who continue their three-game series against the visiting Pirates on Saturday.
Travis Wood tossed six strong innings in his San Diego debut and Cory Spangenberg contributed two hits and an RBI in Friday’s 3-2 win as the Padres clinched their first winning month since July 2015. Hand, who was selected to his first All-Star Game earlier this month and took over the closer’s role following this week’s trade of Brandon Maurer to Kansas City, has not allowed a run in his last 19 appearances covering 19 1/3 innings. The Pirates have lost five of their last six to fall 4 1/2 games back of the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central and clearly have missed Gregory Polanco, who is out with a strained left hamstring. Jordan Luplow was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his major-league debut.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FSN San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (10-7, 3.62 ERA) vs. Padres RH Dinelson Lamet (4-4, 5.92)
Nova is looking to bounce back after allowing seven runs and nine hits over five innings in a 13-3 loss to Colorado on Sunday. The 30-year-old has given up seven home runs in his last four turns but has not issued more than two walks in any of his 20 outings. Wil Myers is 4-for-15 with a home run against Nova, who went 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA over 12 1/3 innings in two career starts versus San Diego as a member of the New York Yankees.
Lamet is pitching on an extra day of rest after allowing two runs and eight hits over 6 2/3 innings in Sunday’s win 5-2 win over San Francisco. The 25-year-old rookie has given up three runs or fewer in five of his 10 starts since being called up from Triple-A El Paso on May 25. Lamet, who is making his first appearance against the Pirates, tossed seven scoreless innings against Atlanta on June 29 but has allowed 14 runs (12 earned) over his last three outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Padres INF Yangervis Solarte (oblique) played all nine innings at shortstop for Triple-A El Paso on Friday and could rejoin the team this weekend.
2. Pirates OF John Jaso is hitless in his last 30 at-bats.
3. San Diego C Austin Hedges (concussion) is expected to take batting practice Saturday and could be activated from the disabled list the following day.