GameTimes and Probable Starters

Friday, 7:10 PM CT: Kyle Hart (2-0, 5.40) vs. Ryan Gusto (1-1, 3.00)Saturday, 6:10 PM CT: Michael King (3-0, 2.42) vs. Hayden Wesneski (1-1, 4.00)

Sunday, 6:10 PM CT: Dylan Cease (1-1, 6.64) vs. Framber Valdez (1-2, 4.91)

San Diego sports a 15-4 record coming into town — a .789 win percentage that ranks as the highest in baseball. The NL West has the Colorado Rockies at 3-15, and the other four teams have the four best records in baseball. Go figure. Poor Rockies. Meanwhile, at 8-10, the Astros are last in the AL West. The Rangers, at 12-7, lead everyone. The other four teams are bunched up 1 1⁄2 games apart, between 10-9 and 8-10.

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The last time Houston played San Diego was from September 16 through September 18 last season, with the Padres winning the first and last games. Houston won the middle game in 10 innings, 4-3. Josh Hader (8-7, 3.26) blew the save but earned the win, while Hector Neris (18) was credited with a save. Kyle Tucker won it with a 10th-inning RBI-single, scoring Grae Kessinger. Tucker and Alex Bregman were the only Astros with multiple hits, with two each.

We’re grinding. We’re in a long stretch here of games, and we’re trying to win as many as we can. And that’s the sign of a really good team, when we pull wins like that. — Joe Espada

The Padres defeated the Cubs, 4-2 in their most recent game on Wednesday. Manny Machado and Tyler Wade each had multiple hits, Nick Pivetta (3-1, 1.57) got the win with a QS, giving up four hits and striking out six in six frames. He allowed one walk and one run. Robert Suarez got his eighth save of the campaign.

I knew at some point I’d be back. It was sooner rather than later. It’s good to be back. This place is family to me. — Wade, on his return from El Paso

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