San Diego @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2013 ) San Diego 3, Pittsburgh 2

The Pittsburgh Pirates used the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft to select hard-throwing right-hander Gerrit Cole, with the hope that he would eventually become a top-of-the-rotation starter. Cole appears bent on accelerating that process in his rookie campaign and certainly has pitched like an ace in September, winning his last two starts in dominating fashion. Cole will need a similar performance Thursday for Pittsburgh to avoid a four-game sweep against the visiting San Diego Padres.

The three-game skid has dropped the Pirates two games behind first-place St. Louis in the National League Central and continues an inexplicable trend against the Padres. San Diego has allowed only four runs in the first three games of the series to win for the 14th time in 15 games in Pittsburgh and improve to a stunning 31-10 at PNC Park since it opened in 2001. Ian Kennedy will take the mound to oppose Cole in the series finale.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.85 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (8-7, 3.33)

Kennedy is unbeaten over his last five starts, a streak that started when he tossed seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball against the Pirates on Aug. 21. He did not factor in the decision in either of his last two starts, giving up three runs and six innings against Atlanta last time out. Kennedy has not fared well away from home with Arizona and San Diego this season, posting a 1-5 mark and 5.28 ERA in 16 starts.

Cole took the loss against Kennedy on Aug. 21, the first of two straight starts in which he permitted 10 hits. The 23-year-old has turned things around since by allowing only three runs in his last three starts and giving up two runs or fewer in five of his last six turns. Cole has yielded one run on eight hits while striking out 16 over 14 innings in back-to-back victories over Texas and the Chicago Cubs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen joined Barry Bonds as the only players in franchise history with 20 homers and 20 steals in three straight seasons.

2. Kennedy is 2-1 with a 2.90 ERA in five career starts versus Pittsburgh.

3. Padres 3B Chase Headley has hit in six straight and nine of his last 10 games.

PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Padres 2