San Diego @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2018 ) San Diego 6, Cincinnati 2

The San Diego Padres may possess a future star at catcher as they focus on knocking off the Cincinnati Reds on Friday in the second contest of their four-game set. Francisco Mejia slugged two homers and drove in four runs in his first start with the franchise as the Padres recorded a 6-2 victory in Thursday's series opener.

Mejia, who is rated as the No. 1 catching prospect by MLB pipeline, was acquired from Cleveland in July for two-time All-Star left-hander Brad Hand and right-hander Adam Cimber. The 22-year-old Mejia belted a solo shot in the third inning and launched a three-run blast one frame later as the San Diego improved to 2-1 on its eight-game road trip. Cincinnati continues to spiral downward as Thursday's setback was its fourth straight and 12th in 15 contests. Second baseman Scooter Gennett, who leads the National League with a .320 batting average, missed the opener for the Reds with a thigh injury but hopes to return on Friday.

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Brett Kennedy (1-2, 5.76 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (7-4, 4.37)

Kennedy earned his first major-league victory in his last turn - his fifth start - as he scattered four hits over six scoreless innings against Colorado. The 24-year-old has allowed five runs over 16 frames in his last three outings after being roughed up for 11 over nine innings in his first two career starts. Kennedy has served up six homers while opponents have registered a .340 batting average against him.

DeSclafani has gone 3-1 over his last six starts to lower his ERA by more than a run. The 28-year-old is 4-2 with a 4.34 ERA while serving up 11 homers over 58 innings in 10 turns at home this season. DeSclafani is making his third career start against the Padres after going 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in the first two, which took place in 2016.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres LF Hunter Renfroe homered in the series opener and has gone deep eight times in his last 19 games.

2. Cincinnati SS Jose Peraza recorded three hits on Thursday to improve to 5-for-8 with a homer over his last two contests.

3. San Diego RF Franmil Reyes went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the opener as his career-best 10-game hitting streak came to an end.

PREDICTION: Reds 5, Padres 4