San Diego at Pittsburgh

The 6-3 Pirates are an early surprise. They just swept three games from the Orioles. But the youthful, rebuilding Pirates are not going to play .667 ball all season. They host San Diego today. The Padres are 14-1 the past two seasons against Pittsburgh. They are 6-0 at PNC Park. The Padres are coming off their first series win of the season, taking two of three from the Red Sox at Fenway Park. They scored a season high eight runs in an 8-6 win against Boston on Sunday. San Diego is going with its No. 5 starter, Germán Márquez. He should put up better numbers this season, having played the previous 10 years for the Rockies. Márquez was a Pirates killer when he pitched for the Rockies, posting a 6-1 record with a 1.89 ERA in seven career starts. He is backed by an elite closer, Mason Miller. Pittsburgh is starting rookie Bubba Chandler, who has only thrown 35.2 innings in the majors. Take the Padres.