At 9:40 PM EDT, the Pirates will slide into Petco Park, chasing a run‑scoring moment while Robbie Ray, the left‑handed wizard, looks to keep his 3.20 ERA in check. Braxton Ashcraft is the RHP to test the Padres’ hitters, with a 1.08 WHIP that’s sharper than the 4.04 ERA the San Diego ballclub’s been riding. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s lineup will be missing a catcher (Endy Rodriguez) and a shortstop (Konnor Griffin), so the ball might bounce around the park more than the fans.
With the Pirates batting .255 to San Diego’s .238, this is a batting‑average battle that’s about as subtle as a bullpen mishap. The teams’ ERAs sit at 4.29 and 4.04, respectively, so every pitch could swing the game more than a bad curveball. Make your pick or jump into the discussion on StreakChat.