Pittsburgh @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 30, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 3, San Diego 4

The San Diego Padres hope for another strong performance at the plate from Wil Myers when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday for the rubber match of their three-game set. Myers has been swinging a hot bat in the series, going 4-for-9 with a home run and three RBIs, and has recorded three two-hit performances in his last four overall contests.

Myers was an integral part of Saturday's 4-3 victory, belting a solo homer in the third inning before delivering a two-run double in the fifth as the Padres posted their third win in 13 contests. Gregory Polanco was the hitting star for Pittsburgh in the loss, going 2-for-2 with a double, a triple, two walks and an RBI. It was the fourth consecutive two-hit effort by the 26-year-old Dominican, who has gone 9-for-16 with two homers and seven RBIs over his last five contests. David Freese also notched a pair of hits Saturday as the Pirates fell to 3-2 on their nine-game road trip.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (5-6, 3.96 ERA) vs. Padres RH Tyson Ross (5-5, 3.32)

Taillon is coming off a victory over the Mets in New York on Monday, when he allowed two runs and four hits over six innings. The 26-year-old Floridian has alternated wins and losses during his five turns this month, posting a 3-2 record after going nine starts without a triumph. Taillon has given up two runs and eight hits with four walks and 12 strikeouts over 14 1/3 frames while going 1-0 in two career starts against San Diego.

Ross' winless streak reached four starts on Tuesday as he settled for a no-decision at Texas after giving up two runs and five hits in six innings. All four turns by the 31-year-old Californian during his drought came on the road, as he hasn't pitched at home since June 3, when he allowed two runs over five frames in a victory over Cincinnati. Ross evened his career record against the Pirates at 2-2 in six starts after yielding two runs and five hits in six innings of a win at Pittsburgh on May 18.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres 3B Christian Villanueva has hit safely in six of his last seven games.

2. San Diego may recall RHP Luis Perdomo from Triple-A El Paso to start Wednesday's contest versus Oakland.

3. Pittsburgh is likely to recall RHP Nick Kingham from Triple-A Indianapolis in time to start against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Monday.

PREDICTION: Pirates 6, Padres 1