Pittsburgh @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 29, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 6, San Diego 3

The Pittsburgh Pirates have enjoyed life on the road after losing five straight contests at home. The Pirates look to improve to 4-1 on their nine-game trek when they visit the San Diego Padres on Monday.

Pittsburgh couldn't get on the road quick enough as it dropped a home contest against Milwaukee before being swept of a four-game series by Arizona. Josh Bell and Jordy Mercer each recorded two hits and drove in a run while Gregory Polanco went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Pirates, who have scored a total of 17 runs in their three road wins after tallying eight times during their losing streak. San Diego returned home to suffer its 10th loss in 12 contests despite banging out 12 hits, including three by Eric Hosmer. The 28-year-old has gone 5-for-12 over his last three games while Wil Myers has registered a pair of two-hit performances in his last three contests.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (6-5, 4.03 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (3-3, 3.57)

Williams has gone 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA in five road starts since defeating the Cubs in Chicago on April 12. The 26-year-old native of San Diego is coming off a home loss to Arizona on Sunday in which he allowed three runs and five hits - two homers - over six innings. Williams made his lone career start against the Padres on May 20, when he yielded four runs and four hits in six frames of a no-decision.

Lucchesi worked four scoreless innings at Texas on Monday in his second start since returning from a hip injury, giving up just one hit with two walks and four strikeouts. It was a much better effort by the 25-year-old rookie from California than the one he produced against Oakland on June 20, when he was tagged for four runs on three hits - two homers - and two walks in 1 2/3 frame of a loss. Lucchesi will be facing Pittsburgh for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Padres have averaged 2 1/2 runs per game over the last two weeks.

2. San Diego lost the services of LHP Tyler Webb, who was claimed off waivers by St. Louis on Friday after going 0-1 with a 12.60 ERA in four relief appearances for the Padres.

3. Pittsburgh placed RHP Chad Kuhl (forearm) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled 2B Max Moroff from Triple-A Indianapolis.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Padres 2