The Padres remain a menace in Pittsburgh. They have gone 29-10 all-time (and 17-3 in the last 20) at PNC Park, winning every single series they've played at the ballpark since its opening. After a phenomenal pitching performance from Andrew Cashner yesterday led the Padres to a victory in the series opener, they'll give the ball to Eric Stults to help take Game 2 this afternoon and continue that dominance.
Stults is coming off a game against the Phillies in which he gave up two runs - both on solo shots - in six innings of work while striking out five and issuing no walks. It was a quality outing and a turnaround from his two starts prior, over which he surrendered 11 combined runs in ten innings. Stults, who was the most dominant pitcher on the staff at one point this season, has come down in the second half of the season. Winless since the All-Star Break, he is still striving for his elusive tenth victory this year.
Stults will be pitching against fellow southpaw Jeff Locke. Locke was named to his first All Star team this year but, like his counterpart today, has struggled since the midseason break. He was riding an eight-start winless streak, during which he was posting a 6.57 ERA, before getting the victory in his latest outing. In his best start since the All Star Break, he kept the Cubs to one run on three hits in seven innings of work as the Pirates went on to a 3-1 victory. It was his first time in ten starts he was able to go a full seven innings before being pulled.
Neither Stults nor Locke has faced their opponent today. See how these lefties match up at 4:05 this afternoon.