Toronto @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( May 31, 2013 ) Toronto 3, San Diego 4

It’s a good thing the host San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays are playing the second contest of their three-game series at night Saturday. The two teams played 17 innings in the opener – which ended shortly after midnight local time – with Jesus Guzman singling in the decisive run in San Diego’s 4-3 victory. Both teams used eight pitchers in the marathon game and the Padres are recalling Robbie Erlin to make his first career start.

Erlin is being promoted because scheduled Saturday starter Clayton Richard pitched the final two innings Friday for his first win of the season. Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus had a season-best four hits, including a two-run homer, but Toronto hitters combined to strike out 16 times. San Diego rookie second baseman Jedd Gyorko had three hits and accounted for all four runs – driving in two and scoring twice.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (2-3, 5.51 ERA) vs. Padres LH Robbie Erlin (0-0, 9.00)

Buehrle allowed one run and five hits in six innings while defeating the Atlanta Braves in his last turn for his first win since April 15. He hasn’t allowed a homer in his last four outings after giving up nine over his previous four games. Buehrle is 1-0 with a 0.54 ERA in two career starts against San Diego.

Erlin was scheduled to start for Triple-A Tucson on Saturday so he will be starting on normal rest. He pitched two innings of relief for the Padres earlier this season before being sent back down and he was 4-0 with a 3.79 ERA for Tucson. Erlin was a third-round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2009 and was dealt to the Padres at the 2011 trading deadline as part of the package for reliever Mike Adams.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego 1B Yonder Alonso suffered a bruised right wrist when hit by a pitch Friday. X-rays were negative.

2. Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista was hitless in seven at-bats Friday to drop his career mark against the Padres to .171.

3. Padres OF Mark Kotsay is 10-for-23 with a homer and eight RBIs against Buehrle.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Padres 2